Harrison goes 4 2/3 innings in rehab start

BOSTON -- Matt Harrison took another step in his medical rehab process with a strong start for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday afternoon against Arkansas. Harrison went 4 2/3 innings and allowed one run on three hits, no walks and three strikeouts. He threw 62 pitches, 20 more than his 42-pitch outing that was rained out last Thursday.

"That's the best I've felt so far during the rehab process," Harrison told reporters in Frisco. "I just felt better and my timing was there, for the most part. I got a little tired at the end there, arm-wise, but my body felt good. I had to make some plays out there, some [fielding] stuff, and was able to do that without any issues. It's step in the right direction."

Harrison's next outing is scheduled for Sunday, for Frisco against Little Rock. The goal for that outing is five innings and 80 pitches. Harrison will likely need two or three more starts before he is Major League-ready, but he is getting closer to being an option by April 23.

"I've still got to continue to build up my pitch count and continue to be effective, so I think that entails whether I'll be ready the 23rd," Harrison said. "It's tough, especially at this point in the season. I wanted to be out there with everybody else. Unfortunately I still need some time to get ready and some time to build up, so I'm just focusing on that."