Merkin Valdez followed Lowry to the mound and saved him from giving up any more runs. Merkin got the first batter he faced to popup to 1B on the first pitch. After a double steal where Noah's 2 baserunners moved up to 2nd & 3rd, Merkin walked the batter to load the bases. He got out of the inning with no runs allowed when he induced the next batter to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

Merkin also threw a scoreless 3rd inning. His final line; 2 innings, no runs, 1 BB, 1 double and 1 strikeout. 25 pitches - 16 strikes. Merkin looks good in his comeback from TJ surgery. He is throwing the ball hard and looks to be 100% physically.