On Wednesday afternoon former Colorado Rockies prospect and current Houston Astros pitcher Aneury Rodriguez made his first major league start after nine relief appearances this season. He did well enough to win out there to win, pitching five innings of scoreless one-hit ball (the 'Stros scored twice in the third inning). He struck out three Reds batters and walked one. Four relievers helped keep that shutout, but then Brandon Lyon entered for the save.
Or entered to blow the save, which he did. A walk, a wild pitch and a single put runners on the corners. Three straight hits each scored a run, capped by Jay Bruce's game-winning double.
Rodriguez, recall, was traded by the Rockies to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009 for Jason Hammel. While Hammel has been in the Rockies' rotation since then and even gained a postseason start, Rodrgiuez made his way through the Rays' system, advancing to Triple-A Durham in 2010.
But then during the 2010 offseason, the Rays did not protect him on their 40-man roster, making him eligible for the Rule 5 Draft. While there was some chatter that the Rockies wanted to select him, the Houston Astros nabbed him with the eighth pick. While beat out for the fifth starter position, Rodriguez stayed with the team as part of the bullpen instead of being sent back to the Rays.
Rodriguez never developed his stuff and likely remains a fifth starter in the league.