Marcus Stroman, Blue Jays pitcher, tosses 4 2/3 no-hit innings in 1st rehab start

The good news is Marcus Stroman was strong in his first minor league rehab start. And the great news is it doesn't appear he had an injury setback, so consider Stroman one step closer to rejoining the Toronto Blue Jays.

The right-hander, who recently told reporters he was ready to return to a pitching mound "and dominate," was true to his word on Wednesday night in Lansing, Mich.

With Blue Jays special assistant Pat Hentgen and Mike Mordecai, co-ordinator of instruction for the Jays farm system, in attendance, the 24-year-old Stroman pitched 4 2/3 no-hit innings for the low Class A Lugnuts, walking one, striking out seven and throwing 44 of his 69 pitches for strikes against the Great Lakes Loons, who stormed back with seven runs in the ninth inning for a 7-4 win.

"It felt natural. It felt like I was home," Stroman told reporters of returning to the mound.

Stroman is expected to throw a bullpen in Toronto on Friday prior to his Sept. 7 start for the triple-A Buffalo Bisons. From there, it's believed he would rejoin the Blue Jays, who embark on a seven-game, seven-day road trip the same day to Boston (three games) and New York to face a Yankees outfit that is battling Toronto for first place in the American League East.

"I can't wait to get back to Toronto," said Stroman. "That city's on fire. The boys are on fire.

"Just to walk into the clubhouse and see everyone. I haven't seen [ace pitcher] David Price, [reliever] LaTroy [Hawkins], [shortstop] Troy [Tulowitzki], like none of these guys."

Stroman, who has had a remarkably quick recovery from tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while participating in a bunting drill at spring training on March 10, would love to return in the heat of a pennant race.

Pitchers often require at least nine months of recovery time from such an injury but Stroman is determined to pitch again for the Blue Jays this season.

I'm ready. I've been through a lot this summer," said Stroman.

Stroman was more effective as the game wore on, striking out the side in the fourth inning and finishing with 10 swinging strikes. With a six-pitch arsenal, he had nasty movement on his pitches and generated late and awkward swings from Loons batters. Stroman induced six groundouts, two flyouts and threw a wild pitch.

Hentgen, a three-time all-star and first Blue Jay to win the Cy Young Award as the American League's top pitcher in 1996, told Sportsnet that Stroman's pitches had good finish and his slider was sharp.

Didn't favour knee

"He back-doored his breaking ball to lefties, he threw some good changeups," Hentgen said. "He pulled a couple of fastballs, but other than that I thought he threw really well.

"I didn't think he favoured his knee at all. I thought overall he looked good."

Stroman set down the first eight batters before the ninth reached on an error by Lansing shortstop Richard Urena. Through three innings, Stroman allowed only weak or foul contact by Great Lakes hitters.

Earlier Wednesday, an excited Stroman expressed his appreciation to those who have stood by him during his recovery.

Last season, the five-foot-nine, 185-pounder burst onto the major league scene, going 11-6 with a 3.65 earned-run average in 26 games (20 starts), tying for third among all MLB rookies in wins and winning percentage.

Stroman said earlier Wednesday that Blue Jays management hasn't told him if he would start or relieve when he rejoins the team.