Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Blake Hawksworth continued his long road back from injury on Friday night, pitching one inning for the Class A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on a minor league rehab assignment. Hawksworth has been sidelined since undergoing two elbow surgeries in January.
Hawksworth allowed one run on one hit, but also struck out two in his one inning for work against Bakersfield. The run was scored by the amazing Billy Hamilton, who reached on a bunt single, then stole his 83rd (yes, 83rd) base of the season, and scored on two ground balls.
Friday's game begins a rehab assignment for Hawksworth, which gives the Dodgers up to 30 days to decide what to do with the reliever, who is out of options. The Dodgers will wait to see how Hawksworth's elbow responds to determine his schedule, but he will likely need to pitch on back-to-back days on one or more occasions, and also throw multiple innings at times.
"We'll kind of see where it goes. We know it's a little bit of a process getting him built up," said manager Don Mattingly on Friday.
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