CINCINNATI -- On the cusp of returning to the Reds' rotation, right-hander Jon Moscot struggled in his latest rehab assignment outing for Triple-A Louisville against Columbus.
After pitching well against the same Columbus team five days earlier, Moscot lasted four innings, giving up 11 hits and nine runs, including four home runs. He is trying to return from inflammation in his surgically-repaired non-throwing shoulder. Five days before his tough outing, Moscot allowed just two hits and two runs over five innings against Columbus.
"Just up in the zone, and I got hit around pretty good," Moscot said Saturday. "Sometimes you just scratch your head. ... I came out and they just got me. Make the adjustments. There's some stuff that I'll do mechanically. Just keep throwing it."
For Moscot and the Reds, the timing of the bad start is frustrating. Had it been a decent performance, he believes he could've been ready to rejoin the Reds rotation, one that desperately needs him after the left oblique injury suffered by Tim Adleman on Thursday.
"Had I not gone out there and done what I did, I think I probably would've been in line to throw at some point in the rotation," Moscot said. "So we'll see what happens."
After watching the tape on Saturday morning, manager Bryan Price said that there were some positives in Moscot's pitching performance, but too many mistakes were made in the strike zone.
"The best pitch he had was a good sinker, arm-side sinker, he was running down-and-in," Price said. "It was a primarily right-handed hitting lineup. But beyond that, a lot of mistakes in the zone that got hit and hit with power."
While it looks like Moscot may now need at least one more rehab start before rejoining the Major League club, he was pleased he came out of the start feeling good physically after throwing 83 pitches.
"Physically, I feel good, and I think that's the most important thing," Moscot said. "My left arm felt good. You're going to have days where you get hit a little bit, but that was one of the far end of the spectrum. At least it's a rehab start and not up here where it counts."
Worth noting
• Anthony DeSclafani (oblique) reported feeling fine Saturday after throwing a 45-pitch live batting practice session on Friday. DeSclafani has been scheduled to make a rehab start for Louisville on May 25.
• Within the next four or five days, Raisel Iglesias (right shoulder) is expected to throw his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list May 1.
• Michael Lorenzen (right elbow and mononucleosis) had no complications after a 40-pitch bullpen on Friday. Price said that if all goes well, Lorenzen, DeSclafani and Iglesias could all be back in the rotation by the end of June, but that June 10 is the earliest any of them could return.