Max Fried has not pitched in a real game since May 13. On Friday night in Moosic, Pennsylvania, he got back on the mound.
The New York Yankees left-hander started the first three innings for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders at PNC Field, part of a 7-6 RailRiders victory over the Worcester Red Sox. He threw 52 pitches, 32 for strikes, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out three, issued no walks, and threw one wild pitch. He also surrendered a home run. His fastball topped out at 95.4 mph.
Fried had two stated goals going into the start: get through all his pitches and feel good at the end. He said he felt he accomplished both, despite a rocky first inning.
"Mixing my pitches, some of my shapes. I felt like I was executing some good areas, especially outside that first inning and obviously the home run," Fried said. "I felt like I was putting it where I wanted to and able to do what I wanted today, which was go out, try some new things, get through all my pitches, build up, and be healthy at the end."
The trouble in the first inning began on his second pitch. Leadoff batter Nick Sogard hit a line-drive single, then moved to second on a Fried wild pitch. After a strikeout, Mickey Gasper singled on a 2-0 count. Fried used up roughly half his planned pitch total in that six-batter opening frame before settling down and throwing a more efficient second inning.
RailRiders manager Shelley Duncan said the defense did not help Fried in spots but came away impressed overall.
"We didn't have the best defense tonight behind him. He gave up a couple hits that could have been turned into outs. Tough plays for the fielders, I believe in those guys," Duncan said. "But overall it was fun watching him. He had a long inning in the first and then a really efficient one in the second, which was a good bounce-back inning for him. He's a hard guy to hit when he's in the strike zone. He's got a really loaded arsenal that makes it hard for hitters. It's fun watching him out there."
Fried's path back to this start included a 28-pitch simulated outing on June 29 and a 36-pitch live bullpen session on July 11. The bone bruise in his pitching elbow kept him off the field for more than two months.
Also returning Friday was George Lombard Jr., the Yankees' top prospect. Lombard had been sidelined since June 16 with sprained fingers on his left hand, an injury he suffered while reaching into a sliding runner during a stolen base attempt. He went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, one RBI, and two runs scored. He handled five chances at shortstop but did commit one throwing error.
"I've been kind of antsy to get back," Lombard said. "It's been about a month now, so I was ready to get back. My body feels good and I'm excited to get back with the team and hopefully keep helping the guys win games."
No timetable for Fried's return to the Yankees has been announced.
