Beachy makes first rehab start in Gwinnett

By Meghan Rose

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

After a month-long stint on the Atlanta Braves’ disabled list, Brandon Beachy made a rehab start for the Gwinnett Braves on Thursday night. It was Beachy’s first outing since injuring his oblique in an at-bat against Philadelphia on May 13.

“I felt like my normal self,” Beachy said. “I was actually having a little fun being out on the mound in a game situation for the first time in what seems like forever.”

Beachy threw 87 pitches — 56 for strikes — and earned the win in five innings of work. The right-hander gave up one run, scattering four hits while fanning eight Durham batters.

The Braves opened a four-game series against Durham in convincing fashion, topping the Bulls 10-2. The G-Braves were led by a five-RBI night from designated hitter Stefan Gartrell, a performance that featured a three-run home run in the bottom of the first.

“I want to be a little more efficient,” Beachy said. “I need to get used to getting up and down between innings as often as possible to build up my endurance to where it needs to be.”

Beachy hopes that it will take one more Triple-A appearance before he is able to rejoin the Braves in Atlanta. His next start is scheduled for June 21 against Syracuse, when he is expected to throw around 100 pitches.

Outfielder Nate McLouth also started his rehab assignment with Gwinnett on Thursday. He singled to left and drove in a run in the bottom of the first. McLouth made only three plate appearances, but had two hits and one strikeout.

“I really felt good, and my timing felt good,” McLouth said. “Game speed is different, and you can’t really simulate that. It was the last hurdle I had to clear.”

McLouth suffered an oblique strain May 22, and the Braves will look to activate him from the DL after only two or three games with Gwinnett.