Harrison tosses three innings in Minors game
Recovering from injury, left-hander allows five hits; Soria, Cotts also pitch
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers left-handed pitcher Matt Harrison allowed two runs in three innings in a Minor League game on Sunday night. His next outing could be against the Astros next weekend in San Antonio.
Harrison allowed five hits with a walk two strikeouts. He threw 57 pitches against Triple-A Omaha, of the Royals organization. The Rangers are considering pitching Harrison against the Astros either Friday or Saturday night.
Harrison, an 18-game winner in 2012, made just two starts last season before going down with a herniated disk in his lower back. He had operations on April 23 and again on May 1 as well as for thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder on Sept. 9.
He came into camp healthy but was delayed for a week by stiffness in his back as a result of sleeping on a mattress that was too soft. He will open the season on the disabled list, but the Rangers are hoping to get him back by the end of April.
Joakim Soria, who will open the season as the Rangers' closer, and Neal Cotts both pitched a scoreless inning in the game.