Triple-A start could be Beachy's last before return

NEW YORK -- Before Brandon Beachy pitched six strong innings for Triple-A Gwinnett in Wednesday night's loss to Durham, the Braves were not willing to definitively say the outing would mark the end of Beachy's Minor League rehab assignment.

But any thoughts of extending it at least one more start were likely erased late Wednesday night, when Tim Hudson was lost for the remainder of the season with a fractured right ankle he suffered in the eighth inning of an 8-2 win over the Mets.

Beachy, who is returning from Tommy John surgery, would be on scheduled to fill Hudson's next turn in the rotation on Monday night against the Rockies.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez was obviously not ready to reveal his pitching plans when he spoke to reporters less than an hour after Hudson was carted off the field. But he might be willing to provide more information before Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Mets.

Beachy allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits against Durham on Wednesday. While making four starts for Gwinnett this month, he has not been bothered by the right elbow discomfort that sidelined him in June, just before he was set to make his expected return to Atlanta's rotation.