Dodgers right-hander Casey Fien pitched one scoreless inning in the first of what is expected to be two rehab appearances with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Thursday night. He allowed no runs on two hits while walking none and striking out two.

“I feel good, I feel strong,” Fien said, after his one inning of work on. “I got all of my pitches in, a little too many more than I wanted. I get to come back and do it again tomorrow.”

The 32-year-old Santa Rosa, California native was placed on the 15-day disabled list on July 19 for right elbow tendinitis. And though his one inning of work against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) on Thursday night ended well, it didn’t start out that way.

“I got some strikeouts,” Fien said. “I kinda got a little loose in the beginning but I think during the middle of the inning I came down and started throwing strikes and that’s what I need to do.”

Although Fien allowed base hits to the first two batters he faced on Thursday night, he escaped his one inning of work without giving up a run while recording two strikeouts. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

It was Fien’s third rehab outing, having made a one inning and a two-inning appearance with the Arizona Rookie League Dodgers on August 6 and August 8 respectively. During those appearances he allowed no runs, one hit and no walks while striking out four in his combined three innings of work.

“Right now the plan is they wanted me to go back-to-back and to go two innings,” Fien said. “I already did the two innings [in Arizona] and these are my back-to-back. I believe I come off [the disabled list] on Sunday and then we’ll make a decision by then.”

The Dodgers claimed Fien off waivers from the Minnesota Twins on May 9. He immediately made his mark with his new team by logging eight relief innings without allowing a run. Unfortunately, that’s when the proverbial wheels came off for the extremely likable right-hander. Over his next 14.1 innings he allowed 10 earned runs while giving up seven home runs. It was then that he noticed discomfort in his right elbow and he was placed on the disabled list.