SEATTLE (AP) -Erik Bedard made his first start in nearly three weeks on Saturday night, after the Seattle Mariners activated their left-handed ace from the 15-day disabled list.
Bedard went on the DL April 15, retroactive to April 9, with inflammation in his left hip. Right-handed reliever Roy Corcoran was optioned to Triple-A Tacoma to make room for Bedard.
The Mariners believe Bedard’s return is the only move they will have to make with their rotation.
Miguel Batista, who left Friday night’s game in the second inning after straining his groin, thinks he will be able to make his scheduled start next Thursday in Cleveland. Carlos Silva is also expected to start on Tuesday against the Indians after leaving his last start with tightness in his right thigh.
“Again, we’re cautiously optimistic. We’ll know more tomorrow and when he throws on the side,” manager John McLaren said of Batista.
Batista’s injury could have been more serious, but the veteran recognized what was happening and pulled himself after facing the first batter of the second inning, before the injury could become worse. Batista had a wrap on his upper leg and did work in the pool before Saturday’s game. He also did some light throwing in the outfield during batting practice.
“The biggest issue is out of the way. I’m not too sore, so that’s good,” Batista said. “Soreness you can play through, but when something is starting to hurt, especially every time you throw a pitch, that’s stupidity going against that.”
Batista walked five of 10 batters on Friday, becoming the fourth Mariners pitcher this month to get hurt.
The 37-year-old Batista, who has had tightness in his lower back and hip intermittently since spring training, allowed three runs and labored through 42 pitches in the first inning. He walked in one run, then allowed a second run to score when he threw a wild pitch to the backstop on the fly.
He said he began feeling pain while facing his third batter, Mark Ellis. That was the only one of the first seven A’s Batista retired.
“In the second inning when I went back out, I was feeling it every pitch I threw. I was like ‘This is not good,”’ Batista said.
Batista is 2-3 with a 5.26 ERA in five starts this season.
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