The Mariners high-leverage reliever looked back to his old self in his appearance with Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday night.
The Seattle Mariners have treaded water this season through a litany of injuries, particularly to the bullpen.
Carlos Vargas has been out the entire season with a lat issue, while left-hander Gabe Speier and Matt Brash have also missed most of the last two weeks with various ailments.
Brash landed on the 15-day injured list May 1 (retroactive to April 30) due to right lat inflammation.
Seattle, which beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Thursday, sent Brash on a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers on the same day. And it looked like he hasn't missed a beat.
Brash pitched an inning for the Rainiers, who beat the Sugar Land Space Cowboys 4-3.
In the top of the seventh inning, with the game tied 2-2, Brash struck out the side in order on 15 pitches.
Brash threw his two-seam fastball (sinker) five times and his four-seam fastball once in his outing. His sinker averaged at 95.1 mph — 2.1 mph less than his season average. His one four-seamer clocked in at 94.1 mph, which was 2.4 mph less than his season average.
The velocity with his fastballs wasn't quite at his average but his slider was as effective as it typically is. Three of his four whiffs, and all three of his strikeouts, came on his slider.
When he went on the injured list, Brash had been nearly flawless for the Mariners.
Before he landed on the shelf, the 28-year-old righty had a 0.00 ERA and fanned eight batters in 11.1 innings pitched across 14 appearances. He's allowed one unearned run on three hits and has issued four free bases: one hit-by-pitch and three walks (one intentional).
Brash's rehab outing with Tacoma took place at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash., which means he's close enough to Seattle to be activated whenever the team feels like he's ready.
Brash is eligible for return on May 15, which is the start of a six-game homestand for the M's and the first of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.
It's unlikely that the Mariners will want Brash pitching back-to-back days, so it's possible they activate him on Saturday after a Friday off day. They could also give him one more appearance with Tacoma and bring him back early next week.
Seattle will play game one of the three-game series against San Diego at 6:40 p.m. PT on Friday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The three-game series will double as the second leg of the Eddie Vedder Cup. The Mariners will have to sweep the Padres to have a chance at winning the Vedder Cup for a second consecutive season.
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