Tarnok (shoulder) started Triple-A Las Vegas' win over Reno on Thursday and fired 2.2 scoreless, hitless innings during which he issued two walks and recorded two strikeouts.
Tarnok's sizable jump in affiliates from the Athletics' AZL team to the Aviators essentially went off without a hitch. The right-hander threw 42 pitches, and although only 21 got into the strike zone, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports Tarnok's fastball consistently sat between 93 and 94 mph. While the spotty control leaves room for improvement, his first two rehab outings -- he's allowed just one hit and three walks over 4.2 frames while generating a 4:3 K:BB -- have been encouraging. Tarnok figures to require at least a couple more rehab outings before a decision is made on when he might join the big-league club and make his Oakland debut after coming over from Atlanta in the Sean Murphy trade.