Ex-serviceman Rowley wins debut

TORONTO — With a stadium full of people on their feet as he walked off the mound, Chris Rowley started to become aware of the magnitude of his achievement.

Rowley pitched 5 innings to win his major-league debut, Jose Bautista scored two runs and the Blue Jays beat the Pirates 7-2 on Saturday.

A former first lieutenant in the United States Army and the first graduate of the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., to reach the majors, Rowley missed all of the 2014 and 2015 minorbons league seasons while on active service, including a stint in Bulgaria.

An undrafted free agent, Rowley pitched nine games for the Blue Jays’ Rookie League affiliate in 2013 before commencing his service. In January 2016, following 30 months in the Army, he received an exception to the remainder of his service. Rowley remains on individual ready reserve.

The right-hander, who began the season at Double-A New Hampshire, allowed one run and five hits. He struck out three and walked one.

Blue Jays manager John Gib- called Rowley’s debut “awesome.”

“We’ve been looking for that,” Gibbons said.

The only run off Rowley came in the second when Josh Bell hit a leadoff triple and scored on a two-out hit by Jordy Mercer.

Rowley left to a standing ovation from the crowd of 46,179 after giving up a one-out single and walk in the sixth. His parents and sister were among the crowd.

“Walking off and (seeing) all those people standing, that was something really special for me,” Rowley said. “I don’t think anybody really expects to experience that in their life.”