Smoltz fans 6 in rehab start

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- John Smoltz had his longest and strongest outing of the season Sunday, working five innings in a rehab start for the Greenville Drive.

Smoltz gave up a run on four hits against the Charleston RiverDogs, but he closed by retiring his final seven batters -- including the final three on strikeouts.

It was Smoltz's third minor-league rehab appearance in the past 11 days as he continues recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

Smoltz pitched three innings for the Drive on May 21, then went 3 1-3 innings with Double-A Portland on May 27.

The 42-year-old Smoltz signed with Boston in the offseason after 20 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. His name was on the marquee Sunday afternoon and fans turned out for a record attendance of 7,129 at 4-year-old Fluor Field.

Smoltz waved to the crowd as he walked in from pregame warmups, the got a standing ovation when he walked to the mound. Smoltz had been her five previous times on rehab assignments with the Greenville Braves, Atlanta's Double-A affiliate for 21 years until moving to Mississippi.

Matt and Jennifer Davis wore Smoltz jerseys with his familiar 29 from his Atlanta days.

"When he got hurt, we were hoping we'd get the chance to see him this season," Jennifer Davis said.

She and her mother, Janet Tindall, remembered a Mother's Day trip more than a decade ago where the two drove from Virginia to Pittsburgh to watch Smoltz pitch at Three Rivers Stadium.

"We've followed him a long time," Tindall said.

Smoltz gave his longtime supporters plenty to cheer about. He retired six in a row during one stretch, often topping 90 mph on the stadium's radar gun.

His toughest inning came with two outs in the third when Charleston's Abraham Almonte reached on a high bouncer to second, and Smoltz gave up singles to the next two hitters.

Smoltz regained his stride the next inning, setting Charleston down 1-2-3 and ending things with a nifty grab on a ball sent back up the middle.

He ended with a flourish in the fifth, striking out his final three batters -- each one looking at called strike three.

Smoltz got a second standing ovation as he walked off the mound despite trailing 1-0, tipping his cap to the appreciative crowd as he got near the dugout. He threw 73 pitches, 52 for strikes, and did not walk a batter.

The appearance may have given Smoltz some insight into his future big league home -- and the Red Sox biggest rival. Fluor Field was built as a replica of venerable Fenway Park, complete with a smaller, 30-foot version of the Green Monster in left field.

Plus, the RiverDogs are the South Atlantic League affiliate of the New York Yankees.

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