Blue Jays' Marcum continues rehab progress

The Toronto Blue Jays were idle Thursday night, but the organization and fans could take heart in nearly five innings of scoreless minor league pitching from a rehabbing Shaun Marcum.

Marcum, in his first double-A appearance since undergoing elbow ligament replacement surgery last year, gave up three hits in 4 2/3 innings for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats against the Connecticut Defenders. He struck out four and walked two in the Eastern League game.

The 27-year-old had previously made two appearances with single-A Dunedin.

Marcum was 9-7 with a 3.39 last year when his season came to an abrupt end due to the surgery.

The right-hander went 24-21 over parts of three seasons with Toronto, with the Blue Jays hopeful he can return to the majors before the end of the season.

New Hampshire would go on to win Thursday's game 1-0. Connecticut pitcher and top San Francisco Giants prospect Madison Bumgarner went head-to-head with Marcum, pitching five innings of no-hit ball before leaving in the sixth after having his bid end.