Mock pleased with first outing in Hagerstown

Nationals pitcher Garrett Mock had a solid return to hill Wednesday in Hagerstown, his first game since neck surgery in April. Mock tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and three strikeouts on 34 pitches. Mock then finished the evening with 15 pitches in the bullpen. The Suns shut out the Lexington Legends 2-0 at Municipal Stadium. "It went well. I kept the ball down in the zone, got some groundballs, it was very smooth." Mock said his pregame bullpen session did not feel good and he went 2-0 on the first batter, but then was able to settle down. "You get that adrenaline rush when you first take the mound. The tempo was good. I pounded the strike zone, first pitch strikes. "I was looking to get early contact and the hitters were swinging into a lot of ground ball outs. That is what I always am trying to focus in on in a normal start." Mock used his fastball, changeup and curveball. He also got a chance to try his slider. "It had been a week since I threw the slider. I am getting the feel back on that pitch. I struck out a guy with the slider." Garrett says he will throw a bullpen session Friday in Harrisburg and work with pitching coach Randy Tomlin. The next rehab start could take place next week in Potomac.