NewsBanks making return to Padres' rotation
San Diego (33-42) vs. Houston (36-38), 7:05 p.m. PT
By Amy Brittain / MLB.com
06/30/09 2:00 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- Padres right-hander Josh Banks has pitched only in troublesome situations in his two relief appearances this season.He'll look to give his former bullpen-mates an easier go around when he makes his first start of the season Tuesday against the Astros.
Banks' two appearances have come in relief of struggling starter Wade LeBlanc, who went 0-1 with a 14.54 ERA before being optioned to Portland on Friday.
Banks' services were needed early in Thursday's game against the Mariners. He entered in the second inning of a 9-3 loss.
Banks pitched 3 1/3 innings against the Mariners, allowing two runs on five hits.
"I went three innings, but I would have rather not given up the two runs," he said. "I made a couple of mistakes."
In Banks' first appearance, on June 19, he entered the game with no outs and the bases loaded in the fourth inning against the A's. Banks minimized the damage -- allowing two hits in three scoreless innings.
Banks said he doesn't view his long-relief appearances as anything out of the ordinary.
"It's nothing different," he said. "You have to get ready and go as long as you can. You're trying to save the bullpen."
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Josh Banks (0-0, 2.84 ERA)
Banks takes LeBlanc's spot in the rotation after LeBlanc was demoted to Triple-A. As a starter in his career, Banks has posted a 2-6 record with a 5.40 ERA over 81 2/3 innings pitched. In five appearances as a reliever, he has a 1.64 ERA over 11 innings pitched. HOU: LHP Mike Hampton (4-5, 4.70 ERA)
Tuesday will be Hampton's first start since straining his groin on the last pitch he threw June 12 against the D-backs in Arizona. In that outing against Arizona, Hampton walked a season-high five batters and gave up three runs on eight hits over five innings, taking the loss. He has not faced the Padres since 2005. In his career, the left-hander is 6-10 with a 5.17 ERA over 25 starts vs. San Diego. Tidbits
San Diego manager Bud Black was happy to get back to National League play on Monday after the Padres went 5-10 in Interleague Play, and that was after winning the final two games of a weekend series against the Rangers. "Our team sets up better for the NL game," Black said. But, in the same breath, Black said the difference in leagues really wasn't why the Padres struggled. "When we pitched well, we won," he said. ... Two pitchers on the disabled list for the Padres, Cha Seung Baek and Luke Gregerson, are inching slowly closer to rehab assignments. Baek (right forearm strain) threw off the mound on Monday. Gregerson (strained right shoulder) will throw off the mound this week. Black said a decision could be made in the next week to 10 days on a rehab assignment for both ... Outfielder Brian Giles, on the disabled list with a right knee contusion, is still resting his knee and hasn't been cleared to hit or run. "We're trying to let the knee quiet down," Black said. ... Pitcher Chris Young, yet another casualty to the DL with a strained right shoulder, is doing better, Black said. "He's improving and increasing the intensity of his throwing program." Tickets
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• Wednesday: Padres (Walter Silva, 0-1, 9.35) vs. Astros (Brian Moehler, 4-4, 6.05), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Padres (Kevin Correia, 5-5, 4.23) vs. Astros (Wandy Rodriguez, 6-6, 3.35), 12:35 p.m. PT
• Friday: Padres (Chad Gaudin, 4-6, 4.97) vs. Dodgers (Hiroki Kuroda, 2-4, 3.77), 7:05 p.m. PT
Amy Brittain is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
