Matt Garza Makes Rehab Start In Smokies Loss

Although he showed the effects of someone who hadn't pitched in a while, Cubs pitcher Matt Garza made a successful rehab start for the Tennessee Smokies today in a 3-0 loss to the Mississippi Braves that ended in the fifth inning because of rain.

Garza pitched 2.2 innings and made 42 pitches, 25 of which were strikes. He took the loss after he allowed one run. The run came in the second inning after he walked the first two batters of the inning. Garza then induced a double-play out of Braves shortstop Jaime Pedroza, but catcher Brian Schlehuber hit a two-out RBI single to give the Braves the lead. It was the only hit Garza allowed.

Garza was perfect in the first inning and retired the two batters he faced in the third. He did not have a strikeout in this game.

Garza clearly has a little more work to do to get into game shape, but from today's outing it looks like he will be back sooner rather than later--assuming no further setbacks. He will probably make two or three more rehab starts, but they have not yet been announced.

As far as the rest of the game went, it was pretty quiet and ended early. The Smokies only had two baserunners, both on singles by Rubi Silva and Rafael Lopez.