Mike Timlin obviously was happy with his rehab performance for the PawSox against the IronPigs last night at McCoy.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

PAWTUCKET — Even for someone who has pitched in more than 1,000 major-league games, it is a good feeling to be able to take the mound again and start firing fastballs in the 90-mph range.

Mike Timlin did just that last night.

The 42-year-old reliever made a rehab start for Pawtucket, his first appearance since suffering a lacerated finger in spring training. Timlin started the game at McCoy Stadium and pitched one scoreless inning, helping the PawSox on their way to a 9-3 victory over the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

“I felt fine,” the big right-hander reported after throwing 18 pitches, 12 for strikes. He gave up two singles and got out of the inning unscathed thanks to an outstanding defensive play by second baseman Joe Thurston.

With Boston having so many things go wrong with its pitching staff so far, Timlin provided some good news. He gave every indication he should be ready to return to Boston soon. His first pitch in the 42-degree weather was a 92 mph fastball, and it was an indication of what was to come.

The veteran threw all except two pitches at 88 mph or higher, with a high of 93 on a pitch that struck out Chris Woodward. Both hits he allowed were ground balls. Brandon Watson led off with a hard shot up the middle that went off the glove of shortstop Jed Lowrie, as Lowrie raced behind second base.

After Timlin struck out Woodward on his 93-mph heater inside, Chris Snelling singled into right, moving Watson to second. Val Pascucci, the IronPigs’ cleanup hitter, then grounded into an unusual fielder’s choice. Pascucci hit a one-hopper back to the mound. Timlin speared it and fired to second. He threw toward second baseman Thurston. The only problem was that Thurston was about 10 feet behind second base. Lowrie, the shortstop, was coming over to cover the bag. He could not reach the throw.

Thurston made the catch and fired to first for an unusual 1-4-3 groundout, with the runners advancing to second and third. Mike Cervenak then hit another ground ball up the middle. Thurston made an excellent play to get to the ball, gloved it, leaped and fired while in the air to get Cervenak. Timlin pointed to Thurston to recognize the play as he left the mound.

“I was a little rusty, but it’s been a few days,” Timlin said. He did not think the cold weather affected him.

“As a pitcher, once you get warm, you stay warm,” said Timlin, who last August become only the 13th pitcher in major-league history to appear in more than 1,000 games. “If you are a hitter, you’ve got to get your hands warm for each at bat. For me, it wasn’t too bad.”

Timlin plans to be at Fenway today for Opening Day ceremonies.

“I thought he threw the ball fine,” said Pawtucket manager Ron Johnson. “He got an opportunity to get his work in and that’s what it’s about when a guy like that comes down. It’s so different when you’re dealing with a guy like Timlin who comes down to get his rehab work in and he’s pitched 18 years in the major leagues. I pretty much go by what he said. He was pleased with his outing and that was good by me.”

“It never gets old,” Timlin said. “It’s a brand-new game every year. It’s nice.”

Timlin, who has pitched in 347 games for Boston, second in team history to Bob Stanley’s 552 games, is scheduled to return to McCoy and pitch one more inning tomorrow. This time, though, he will pitch in his normal relief spot, not start the game as he did last night.

pkenyon@projo.com