Garrett Whitlock looks ready to go on an effective rehab outing with WooSox

Red Sox pitcher Garrett Whitlock threw 4.2 scoreless innings during Wednesday’s rehab start in Worcester. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Garrett Whitlock had about 60 pitches to work on, and the plan was that he would throw three, maybe four innings while shaking off the rust from his nearly month-long stay on the injured list with an oblique strain LEFT.

Instead, he almost made it five, and if Whitlock was rusty, you certainly couldn’t tell.

The Red Sox right-hander was on top form during Wednesday morning’s rehab start in Worcester, pitching 4.2 scoreless innings while striking out five in a dominant and efficient performance. Whitlock allowed two hits and a walk, including a soft but well-placed double down the left-field line, and threw 40 strikes on 61 pitches, including 12 whiffs.

Although Whitlock said he and the team have not discussed next steps regarding his return to the big league staff, he felt well enough Wednesday that he was ready to go if given the opportunity. ‘occasion.

“I believe so, yes,” Whitlock said. “Everything went well and, from my point of view, everything is moving in the right direction.”

Whitlock was called upon from the start, retiring the first seven batters he faced and dominating the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders with a six-pitch second inning. He used all of his pitches effectively, with his fastball consistently hitting 94 mph while crushing Triple-A hitters with his sweeper. At one point, he took three consecutive whiffs off Yankees prospect Oscar Gonzalez, whom Whitlock struck out twice on the day.

Once Whitlock finished fourth with just 47 pitches, it didn’t take much to convince WooSox manager Chad Tracy to send him back for another inning.

“Trace knows me well enough now that when I arrived he said ‘good job, you’re in fifth grade,'” Whitlock said. “I didn’t really have to ask and Tracy didn’t have to beg, so that was good.”

Whitlock finished his day by drawing a flyout, walking a batter and striking out Kevin Smith before handing the ball to Josh Winckowski. If all goes well, Whitlock’s next time on the mound should be early next week in St. Petersburg during Boston’s upcoming road series against the Tampa Bay Rays.