Angels Ride Rodriguez’s Milestone

Francisco Rodriguez took the game ball home with him, to eventually share with his family in Venezuela. This was a milestone save, surrounded by a hint of Cooperstown.

Four years ago, the kid burst into national prominence so rapidly he got a nickname before he got a save. Now “K-Rod” has 100 saves, the first pitcher in major league history to get there before turning 25.

“This is a big step in my career,” Rodriguez said. “Hopefully, one of these days when I’m retired, I can be there at the top of the heap.”

Rodriguez put the flourish on his milestone save with -- what else? -- a K, striking out Vernon Wells to secure the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday at Angel Stadium.

For eight innings, the game was undistinguished and sloppy, as in spring training sloppy. In the ninth, Rodriguez pitched with distinction, getting two strikeouts and a ground-ball out for his 41st save, tops in the major leagues.

He is the best closer in baseball right now. He hasn’t given up a run since June 26.

But the record he set Sunday offered a tantalizing chance to look ahead, not look back.

Rodriguez is 24, with 100 saves. Troy Percival, the Angels’ all-time leader with 316 saves, got his first at 25.

So did Trevor Hoffman, six saves from passing Lee Smith and becoming baseball’s all-time leader at 479.

You never know. “Game Over” is over at Dodger Stadium. Gregg Olson got to 100 saves at 25 and finished with 217.

Rodriguez’s wild delivery is anything but textbook, and he did sit out two weeks last season because of a strained forearm, but Angels pitching coach Bud Black said he does not consider Rodriguez more prone to injury than any other pitcher.

“He’s gifted,” Black said. “He’s got great body control. He’s coordinated. The athleticism is there. That’s all integral for a guy that has that type of high-energy, aggressive delivery.”

Rodriguez did his work Sunday at the end of a long and inartistic afternoon.

After Garret Anderson knocked out Cy Young candidate Roy Halladay in the first inning with a line drive to the right elbow -- just a bruise, X-rays were negative -- the Blue Jays used six relievers.

The Angels had a stolen base nullified on umpire interference, as plate umpire Mark Wegner said he made contact with the catcher as he threw. Jered Weaver (11-2) got the victory, but he needed 113 pitches to last 5 2/3 innings. Adam Kennedy lost track of the number of outs while running the bases, Chone Figgins lost a fly ball in the sun, Anderson played a catchable fly ball off the wall and Orlando Cabrera sailed a throw past first base.

But Mike Napoli hit his 15th home run, an Angels record for rookie catchers, Figgins and Cabrera had three hits apiece and the Angels stayed on the fringe of contention. With 19 games to play, they trail the Oakland Athletics by 5 1/2 games.

Rodriguez spoke of the milestone save as if he were accepting an Academy Award.

“I would like to say thanks to [Scot] Shields and the rest of the guys in the bullpen, because I couldn’t have done it so quick without them,” Rodriguez said.

Said Shields: “I’m happy to be his setup guy for a long time.”

As Rodriguez spoke about 100 saves, Brendan Donnelly walked by to rib him.

“Two hundred more,” Donnelly said, “and you’ll show me something.”