“There was some good things to take from it and some not-so-great things to take from it,” Hendriks said. “Now I can say I’ve got out there. Now I can say I pitched for the Boston Red Sox.”

Hendriks, 36, was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkins lymphoma in December of 2022. He returned to pitch for the White Sox on May 29, 2023, but lasted only five games before injuring his elbow.

He signed with the Red Sox in February 2024 believing he could pitch in the second half of that season, but didn’t get beyond six minor league games.

Then Hendriks landed on the injured list again this season with inflammation in his elbow.

Hendriks averaged 95.3 m.p.h. with his fastball Sunday and managed to get four swings and misses among his 24 pitches.

He also became the first Australian to pitch for the Red Sox.

“Now we go,” he said. “There’s no sentimental value or anything like that. Now I’ve got to perform.”

Hendriks said he kept his emotions in check as he warmed up. He was activated from the injured list Saturday and admitted to being “antsy” waiting to get in a game.

“I have to show these guys they can feel confident going to me in any situation,” Hendriks said.

Giolito takes needed step

Another pitcher who has been waiting a long time to get in a game, Lucas Giolito, took a positive step.

Giolito went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits for Double A Portland at Hartford. That represented progress after throwing only 7⅔ innings in his first three minor league rehab appearances.

He struck out four without a walk and threw 47 of 65 pitches for strikes.

Manager Alex Cora suggested Giolito would need one more start before being activated off the injured list. Giolito strained his left hamstring in spring training.

Like Hendriks, Giolito signed with the Red Sox before the 2024 season. The righthander tore an elbow ligament in his first spring training game and has been out since.

As Giolito builds up, Brayan Bello is ready to go. Cora said the plan was to activate the righthander off the injured list to face Seattle on Tuesday at Fenway.

Bello is 3-0 with a 3.63 earned run average in four career starts against the Mariners and pitched well against them twice last season.

Bello went on the injured list March 24 with a sore shoulder. He did not appear in any games during spring training and has since started four minor league games.

Fitts takes it slow

It appeared to be bad news when promising rookie righthander Richard Fitts walked off the mound in Chicago on April 12 with an apparent shoulder injury.

But there he was on Sunday, playing catch in right field before the game and throwing out of a windup at a slower pace.

“Felt great,” Fitts said.

The pain proved to be a strain in one of the pectoral muscles near the shoulder. Still, the Red Sox will be careful with Fitts, who has a 2.39 ERA in seven starts since making his debut last season.

After Fitts threw, Connor Wong popped out of the dugout with all his catcher’s gear on and went through a defensive workout. He also is making quick progress after breaking a bone in his left hand April 7.

Wong has started hitting off a tee as well. His return is likely to be quicker than was originally expected.

Righthanded starter Kutter Crawford, who has been out all season with tendinitis in his right knee, will head back to Fort Myers, Fla., on Thursday to ramp up his work.

Back on base

Kristian Campbell was 2 for 4 with a double, improving his on-base percentage to .402. He has reached base safely in 20 of his 21 games this season … When the opponent scores first, the Red Sox are 3-10 … The Red Sox are 11-14 against the White Sox since 2022 … Righthander Michael Fulmer, who was designated for assignment Friday, was outrighted off the roster and elected free agency.

Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.