Alex Cobb tosses successful rehab start in minors

Published Aug. 3, 2013 9:09 p.m. ET

foxsports

This time, Alex Cobb achieved the desired result.

The Tampa Bay Rays right-hander pitched four innings and allowed one run and three hits with three strikeouts for the Class A Advanced Charlotte Stone Crabs against the Brevard County Manatees, a Milwaukee Brewers affiliate, Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla.

He threw 56 pitches (33 strikes) and walked two in what was his first extended rehab start since sustaining a mild concussion when a line drive off the bat of the Kansas City Royals' Eric Hosmer struck him on the right ear June 15 at Tropicana Field.

"All of the things that we were trying to do today went well," Cobb said in Port Charlotte. "I was trying to be a little bit cautious in the beginning, and then I started noticing that they were swinging at everything and being really aggressive. It got me going a little bit."

On July 23, Cobb attempted a rehab start with Charlotte but left after two pitches because of a blister on his right index finger. Cobb used a protective cover on the affected finger until last Wednesday.

"No problems," Cobb said of the blister issue. "I think this was the best weather to test it in. ... I was a little nervous once I stepped foot out there, and you just feel the humidity attack you. But thankfully all the work and treatments we've been putting in the last few weeks paid off."

Cobb, 25, is 6-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 13 starts this season. Rays manager Joe Maddon has said Cobb could return to the majors in mid-August.

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