After final start, Ross reflects on strong year
Right-hander made all 33 starts, recorded career-high 212 strikeouts in '15
SAN DIEGO -- A year ago, Tyson Ross made 31 starts in his first full season in the Padres' rotation and made the All-Star team.
This season, Ross went wire-to-wire, making all 33 starts and even improving on what he started a year ago, even if the results weren't there for him in a 4-3 loss to the Brewers on Tuesday night at Petco Park.
Ross (10-12) allowed four runs on six hits in six innings, striking out seven, as he finished the season with a 3.26 ERA and a career-best 212 strikeouts.
"I was healthy, that was a goal of mine to be able to go start to finish. Physically, I feel pretty good. I learned a lot along the way and had a better second half than I did the first," Ross said.
Ross got off to a rough start on Tuesday, allowing two runs in the first inning. He first yielded an RBI double to Jean Segura in the first inning and later on Segura got him for a two-run home run in the sixth inning on a first-pitch fastball.
"I just didn't have a good rhythm early with the leadoff hitter on in the first and sixth inning, coming around to score," Ross said. "… It's hard to find your tempo when you have guys on base."
Still, after a big first season in the rotation in 2014 for the Padres, Ross showed that performance wasn't an outlier by backing it up with another big season.
In the last two seasons, he has a 3.03 ERA in 64 starts with the Padres, allowing a .643 OPS to opposing teams with 407 strikeouts.
"It's huge for me. It's a confidence builder. I had a rocky first couple of years with Oakland and in 2013 being in the 'pen and starting a little.
"To go wire-to-wire as a starter and back up what I did last year, and take the ball every fifth day, it's something I take pride in."
He impressed interim manager Pat Murphy, who had an up-close view for the last 19 starts Ross made after Murphy was hired in June.
"Tyson's great. I think every start I've been here, he gave us a chance to win. There wasn't one time where we had to take him out of the game because he was getting beat up," Murphy said. "It pains you every time Tyson doesn't get the win."