Richard makes promising second rehab start

SAN DIEGO -- Padres pitcher Clayton Richard made his second Minor League rehabilitation start on Tuesday for Triple-A Tucson in Omaha, allowing two runs in six innings.

Richard, on the disabled list since May 5 with an intestinal virus, has worked on using a higher arm slot during his stint with Tucson and during a simulated game on May 11.

The results, manager Bud Black said Wednesday, have been good. On Tuesday, Richard got 12 ground-ball outs, the results of repeating his raised arm slot and getting on top of the ball.

"Lots of ground-ball outs yesterday, and he held his velocity into the seventh inning," Black said. "... Our reports from the Triple-A staff and from [assistant general manager] A.J. Hinch, who was there, was that the arm slot looked a bit higher than what we saw through April and the early part of May. So that's a good thing.

"I think that's produced a little bit better sink on the ball so it's good to see that the results were there in competition."

Richard was 0-4 with an 8.54 ERA in six starts before he was felled by an intestinal virus that stuck with him for a month. Once he was strong enough to pitch, he made several side sessions using the new arm slot and then did so in a simulated game in St. Petersburg on May 11 before the Padres faced the Rays.

In two starts with Tucson, Richard is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 12 innings and no walks.

So what's next?

Richard was set to arrive in San Diego before Wednesday's game against the Cardinals, though Black wouldn't commit to when or where he'll pitch again.