ARLINGTON -- Michael Pineda didn't let a short stint on the injured list slow his momentum.

The Twins activated Pineda from the 10-day injured list in time to start Thursday night's series opener against the Rangers at Globe Life Park, and the big right-hander didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning of his return, allowing three runs in five innings with one walk and six strikeouts to earn the win in the Twins' 13-6 rout.

Showing no signs of rust from the time off, Pineda threw a fastball that touched 95 mph on several occasions as he relied heavily on the heater. He allowed three or fewer runs for the 15th time in his last 16 starts and he located well -- yielding only a Hunter Pence walk until Nomar Mazara's two-out double in the fourth. Pineda was then tagged for three runs on five hits in the fifth.

"His stuff might have even ticked up a little bit as the game went on," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "Coming off of a short stint on the IL, it’s still an IL stint. I thought he looked good. He put us in a good spot and got us into a range in the middle innings, and got his pitch count to a pretty good point. I think it was a good outing."

Pineda had been on the injured list since Aug. 3 with a right triceps strain and he pitched well before the injury, posting a 2.23 ERA and notching five quality starts in his previous six outings dating to June 29. Left-hander Devin Smeltzer made two starts in Pineda's place, throwing six scoreless innings against the Royals on Aug. 4 before getting hit hard by the Indians on Aug. 9.

There could have been an argument for Smeltzer to assume a full-time rotation spot upon Pineda's return due to the extended struggles of Martin Perez, but the Twins chose to keep their rotation intact and moved Smeltzer to a relief role.

Smeltzer was, indeed, immediately called upon in Thursday's game, pitching the final four innings and earning his first career save in the blowout win. He was optioned back to Triple-A Rochester following the outing, with a corresponding move to be announced before Friday's game.

"That’s what my job is," Smeltzer said. "If it’s pinch-running, it’s pinch-running. If it’s going five, I’ll go five, whatever they need. I’m going to do whatever I can to help the team win. ... The save -- I would rather have pitched much better than that and not gotten a save. But I kind of wore one and helped the team out. I like that better."

Lewis Thorpe's arm could be relatively rested after he threw only three innings on Tuesday. Sean Poppen, who has also pitched in the length role in the bullpen, was placed on the Minor League injured list on Tuesday with a right elbow contusion. Kohl Stewart hasn't spent the necessary 10 days with Rochester since he was last optioned.

Astudillo begins rehab assignment

Willians Astudillo was sent on a rehab assignment on Thursday to Double-A Pensacola, where he will focus primarily on getting his legs under him as a catcher before doing supplementary work on his infield and outfield skills. Astudillo has been on the IL since June 27 with a left oblique strain.

"I really do think the catching aspect of everything going on comes first," Baldelli said. "Instead of sending him out there to play third and first and DH and playing the outfield, and then worry about the catching, I think we’re just going to focus on the catching right off the bat."

Cruz takes swings in cage

Nelson Cruz has responded well to his increased baseball activity and he was expected to do some hitting work in the cages on Thursday. Baldelli said that Cruz would hit on the field at some point during the four-game series at Globe Life Park -- potentially, as soon as Friday.

"There's no reason to really rush anything at any point," Baldelli said. "He's doing very well from the time he's gone and seen the specialist and kind of gotten his directives. He's been fine. He's been smiling a lot. He says he's feeling good, and he's ready to go."