As the Toronto Blue Jays search for any sort of rotation reinforcements, right-hander Jameson Taillon took a step towards a big-league return on Friday.
Taillon tossed 3.1 innings and 48 pitches (34 strikes) in a rehab start for triple-A Buffalo, surrendering three hits, two walks and four earned runs against the Rochester Red Wings before departing.
The 34-year-old cruised through his first three innings of work, allowing just one baserunner his first time through the order.
Things flipped in the fourth, however, as the first two batters reached on a walk and a single before Taillon recorded his first out of the frame. The next hitter then lifted a soft fly ball to left field that scooted under a charging Sean Keys' glove, scoring Rochester's first run of the evening.
Taillon walked Leandro Pineda to load the bases before turning the game over to the bullpen.
But Sam Gardner entered and permitted a first-pitch double, plating all three runs — all of which were charged to Taillon.
Blue Jays reliever Joe Mantiply and infielder Josh Smith also made rehab appearances in the game.
Mantiply struck out two while allowing two hits and one run on 18 pitches in the fifth inning. He threw his curveball, sinker and changeup in his inning of work.
Smith went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run while playing all eight innings of defence at third base.
Taillon, meanwhile, managed to mix seven different pitches in the outing, tossing his sweeper, cutter, changeup, fastball, sinker and slider. He averaged 90.6 m.p.h. on six heaters and generated eight total swinging strikes from the Red Wings.
Acquired from the Chicago Cubs ahead of this year's trade deadline, Taillon made two starts for the Blue Jays before hitting the injured list with right forearm tendinitis on Aug. 11. In his two Toronto outings, he posted a 3.38 ERA with seven strikeouts and five walks in eight innings.
Before the trade, the dual citizen recorded a 5.92 ERA over 15 starts before being designated for assignment by the Cubs.
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