True Blue L.A.: Claudio Vargas Makes Rehab Start For Inland Empire

Dodger righthander Claudio Vargas, on the 60-day disabled list since opening day, made his first rehabilitation start Tuesday night for the Inland Empire 66ers, on the road in Adelanto against the High Desert Mavericks.

Vargas, coming back from battling right elbow tendinitis, was sharp until he hit a rough patch in the fourth inning.  He had good command of both his curve and fastball, especially through the first three innings.  One of the pitchers from the 66ers was charting pitches from the stands behind home plate, and he reported Vargas was hitting 90 MPH on the gun.

After giving up one run on two hits in the first three innings, Vargas was hit harder in the fourth.  He allowed two doubles and a single, although to be fair one of the doubles seemed like a flyout off the bat that simply carried in the high elevation of Adelanto.

Vargas’s final line:  4 IP, 5 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

The 66ers lost the game, 7-5
Among the other highlights of the game:

  * Scott Van Slyke of the 66ers stole home on the back end of a double steal in the sixth inning
  * Mariners’ #3 ranked prospect Phillippe Aumont came into the game with runners on in the eighth inning, with the Mavericks leading 7-5.  The 20-year old Aumont, an imposing 6’7” righthander, gave up a single to right field to pinch-hitter Alex Garabedian, but Christian Lara was thrown out at the plate by rightfielder Carlos Peguero, who uncorked a nice throw home.  Aumont was regularly hitting 94-97 MPH, and also featured a devastating curve, which he used to strike out two batters in the 9th to help complete the save.

True Blue is doing beat reporting at single-A San Bernardino throughout the season.