PAWTUCKET, R.I.Right-hander Scott Atchison, who has been on the disabled list since July 14 with right forearm tightness, began his rehab assignment Monday afternoon with Triple-A Pawtucket. Atchison pitched one perfect inning, throwing eight pitches, five for strikes.
Atchison entered for the seventh inning of the PawSox 6-4, 12-inning win over the ScrantonWilkes-Barre Yankees in the regular season finale. He retired Melky Mesa on a grounder out to second baseman Ryan Dent, Gustavo Molina on fly ball to right fielder J.C. Linares, and Jose Gil on a fly ball to left fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker.
Atch did a nice job, said Pawtucket manager Arnie Beyeler. He was up a little bit with a couple of pitches but his ball was jumping out of his hand real good and the breaking ball had some depth to it. He threw some quality pitches. Real quick inning, like he does. He pitches to contact and thats kind of his game. He looked good. He was good after he got done and felt good. So well see how that goes.
Atchison is 2-1 with a 1.76 ERA in 37 games for the Red Sox this season. He is eligible to be activated Sept. 13.
Atchisons next scheduled outing is Thursday in Game 2 of the PawSox playoff series against the Yankees. Initially, Atchison thought he might need Tommy John surgery on his elbow. But, after examining the right-handers elbow, Dr. James Andrew recommended rest and rehab. Monday was his first appearance in a game since July 27 on his last rehab stint with the PawSox. He has not appeared in a major league game since July 13. Before Mondays game he said he was pleased with how his elbow has responded to his rehab program. The true test, though, he said, will be to see how it responds the day after he pitches.