Verlander shaky in Mud Hens rehab

Justin Verlander made his Triple-A debut Sunday, and like many pitchers playing for the first time at a new level, he hit a few bumps in the road.

OK, this wasn't a regular Triple-A debut, given that the player involved is a six-time All-Star and both the 2011 American League Cy Young Award winner and Most Valuable Player. But it wasn't the first outing Verlander, who skipped from Double-A Erie to the Majors in 2005, was looking for all the same.

The right-hander, who hasn't pitched for the Tigers yet this season due to a strained right triceps, lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits and two walks in his first rehab outing for Toledo as the Mud Hens defeated Indianapolis, 11-6, at Victory Field. 

Verlander needed 79 pitches -- 50 of them strikes -- for the 17 batters he faced, and while the results weren't great, he said it was just good to being pitching in something other than a simulated game.

"I got my pitch count up," he said. "Felt all right, no issues with where I was injured. Obviously, I would have liked to be more consistent in the strike zone, but overall, the bottom line is being healthy, and I felt healthy."

The 32-year-old hurler's easiest inning was his first as he gave up just a single to Keon Broxton in the 20-pitch frame. He loaded the bases in the second on Jaff Decker's single and walks to Elias Diaz and Gorkys Hernandez, then nearly escaped the jam by striking out Gustavo Nunez and getting Alen Hanson to pop up to short left. Unfortunately, shortstop Dixon Machado and left fielder Xavier Avery let the ball drop between them, giving Hanson a two-run double.

The Indians loaded the bases again in the third on singles by Brent Morel, Tony Sanchez and Elias Diaz and tacked on their third run on Hernandez's sacrifice fly. With his limit of 80-85 pitches approaching, Verlander exited after 2 2/3 innings with rust partly to blame for the less-than-stellar results.

"I think it was more mechanical," said Verlander, who went 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA in 32 starts for Detroit last season. "Just the inconsistencies throughout the mechanics don't really allow you to repeat as well as you'd like. I think a lot of that comes from being the first time in a game and the first time really amping it up."

Neither Verlander nor the Tigers are quite sure when the starter will return to the Majors. He could be back with the big club as early as next weekend, but that will depend on how his arm responds to Sunday's start in the coming days. Another rehab appearance could also be in the offing and wouldn't be surprising given the way Detroit has taken it slow with the right-hander. 

If it was up to Verlander, though, he wouldn't mind making his first stay in the International League a short one.

"I skipped Triple-A, so I guess now I have all my bases covered. Hopefully, it doesn't happen again. Obviously, you don't want to go on a rehab assignment. It means you got hurt. I went 10 years without doing it, and hopefully it'll be a long time since."

Another baseball veteran starred at the plate in the Mud Hens' win. Mike Hessman hit the 424th home run of his Minor League career and went 3-for-5 with five RBIs as Toledo's designated hitter. Center fielder Daniel Fields went 3-for-5 with a double, three runs and two RBIs.