NORRIS MIFFED by shaky COMMAND

TORONTO • He pitched into the fourth inning without allowing a run, but when the manager came to get him, Daniel Norris trudged to the dugout, his head down, his expression gloomy.

A 21-year-old left-hander who excelled at three minorleague levels this season, Norris earned a September promotion to the Toronto Blue Jays. Then he hit a wall.

“I was just trying to control my emotions,” he said of his plodding walk from the mound. “I wasn’t angry. I was a little frustrated. I haven’t been sharp since I’ve been up here, so that kind of nags on me. I want to go out there and have a good showing and feel better. That’s what I was thinking about.”

After a breakthrough year in the minors — a 12-2 record and 2.53 ERA — Norris came to the Jays to absorb the ambience and pitch a few games out of the bullpen. When the Jays needed a spot starter Thursday, he got the call.

Over three innings, he allowed one baserunner on a walk. He struck out Robinson Cano. But he was throwing more balls than strikes. His fastball velocity was down. His command was erratic.

In the fourth, he allowed a bunt single, got an out and issued a walk. That was it. Todd Redmond gave up a single and homer, leaving Norris charged with two runs.

After throwing a careerhigh 1311/3 innings this season, his fastball velocity — normally in the mid-90s — hovered around 90 against the Mariners. But he also kept them off-balance with his curveball and changeup.

Manager John Gibbons seemed unworried afterward, observing that a month in the big leagues will benefit Norris in ways that transcend results.

But after baffling batters all season, Norris was clearly troubled following his final outing of the season. Without his normal fastball velocity and command, he threw a lot of off-speed stuff at the Mariners.

“It’s obvious my stuff ’s not really there,” he said. “It’s tough to try and pitch without your stuff, but sometimes that’s a part, as a competitor, that has to come out. I think that’s kind of what I tried to do today.”

He insisted he is not tired. His arm feels fine, he said, and he has learned much from veterans Mark Buehrle, R.A. Dickey and J.A. Happ. Their theme: “It’s the same game. Don’t change anything.”

After a whirlwind season, full of promise, he will have a long winter to ponder that advice.