Left-hander Blake Snell pitched an immaculate inning on Sunday against the Stockton Ports at Excite Ballpark as part of a masterful rehab start for Single-A San Jose.
Snell struck out the first three batters he faced in the first inning, Ryan Lasko, Cole Conn, Myles Naylor, on a minimum of nine pitches. All nine of Snell’s pitches were strikes and all three Ports hitters struck out swinging.
Snell, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner with the San Diego Padres last season, retired all 12 batters he faced on just 46 pitches, with 34 as strikes.
Snell finished with seven strikeouts and left the game after the fourth inning, with the San Jose Giants holding a 4-0 lead. Bo Davidson hit a two-run home run, and Bryce Eldridge and Cole Foster each added an RBI.
Snell was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 24 with a left adductor strain, with Giants manager Bob Melvin saying then that it happened during a bullpen session.
Snell went 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in his first three starts for the Giants after he signed a $62 million, two-year contract with the team in March. In his outings, Snell, 31, allowed 15 earned runs and 18 hits in 11 2/3 innings, with 12 strikeouts and five walks.
Snell had a positive 30-pitch bullpen session on Friday, clearing the way for him to make his rehab start on Sunday.
“There was just a crispness to it that we weren’t seeing before,” Melvin said of Snell’s bullpen. “The velo was way better in the bullpen as well. He looked more balanced. The breaking ball was sharper. It was pretty encouraging.”
Staff writer Evan Webeck and the Associated Press contributed to this story. Please check back for updates.