BOSTON -- Red Sox lefty Eduardo Rodriguez had a bumpy first start to his Minor League rehab assignment on Thursday night at Syracuse. Pitching for Triple-A Pawtucket, Rodriguez gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) over 3 2/3 innings.
The good thing is that Rodriguez was able to stretch out to 75 pitches, 45 of which were strikes. The Red Sox were hoping Rodriguez would be able to throw that many pitches in five or six innings.
E-Rod will start again in the Minors on Tuesday, and Boston will evaluate what's next after that outing.
"We'll see where we are with how he's feeling physically, how he's responded to the work with the knee and all," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "But hopefully his return to us is making progress by the day."
Rodriguez suffered a patella subluxation (partial dislocation) in his right knee on Feb. 27. He made a couple of starts in extended spring training before moving up to Triple-A on Thursday.