Originally published Sunday, August 3, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Erik Bedard takes first step in coming back from injury

Mariners starter Erik Bedard tested his balky left shoulder Sunday, throwing in the outfield for about 10 minutes. Bedard had not thrown...

By TIM BOOTH

AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE — Mariners starter Erik Bedard tested his balky left shoulder Sunday, throwing in the outfield for about 10 minutes.

Bedard had not thrown on the field since July 4, when he threw 99 pitches over five innings in a win against Detroit. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list July 10 with a tight shoulder, and an MRI showed no additional damage in his pitching shoulder.

Bedard made 30 throws from 60 feet Sunday in his first extensive throwing session since going on the DL. He threw briefly in the batting cages under Safeco Field once last month, but had not done any lengthy throwing.

Bedard spent about 20 minutes joking around with former Baltimore teammates Kevin Millar, Jeremy Guthrie and Aubrey Huff after the session. Bedard said he was fine and felt no soreness, before quickly jetting away from a reporter.

"Afterward if the report is a little positive then that's real important," manager Jim Riggleman said. "If it's real negative, that's important. If it's somewhere in between then we're probably making too much of it."

Bedard, who was acquired from the Orioles in the offseason, has a chilly relationship with the media. He told the Baltimore Sun and MLB.com on Saturday he hoped to pitch in a couple of games before the end of the season.

Bedard is 6-4 with a 3.67 ERA in 15 starts for Seattle this season. Riggleman said after Sunday's game that Bedard is expected to throw again on Monday.

Riggleman also said the club wants to get Brandon Morrow a couple of starts before the end of the season, depending on how soon J.J. Putz can return to the closer role full-time. Putz missed over a month with a hyperextended right elbow and has blown two saves in six appearances since coming off the DL on July 20.

Morrow, 1-2 with a 1.51 ERA and 10 saves this season, handled the closer role while Putz was out, but was drafted to be a starter. Riggleman said the goal is to get Morrow to the point he could pitch five innings late in the season and show his arm can handle the rigors of starting.

"It's going to happen at some point," Riggleman said. "(We're) not exactly sure when, but it's going to happen at some point."

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