After battling a groin injury, Lamar ex Clay Hensley is back with Padres

[KFDM COOP]

After battling a groin injury, Lamar ex Clay Hensley is back with Padres

That occurred when former Lamar University pitcher Clay Hensley stepped out of the third-base dugout before Thursday night's game.

"I didn't think he was back," Gilligan said of Hensley, whose appearance that night was his first with San Diego since being sidelined by a groin injury in May.

Hensley lost a spot in the Pa-dres' starting rotation partially because of the injury but said Friday a return to the major leagues was pleasing enough.

"Now that I'm healthy, I'm just happy to be back and ready to contribute in some aspect," said Hensley, a right-hander whose return was delayed with a right biceps injury while re-habbing with Triple-A Portland.

A blister on Hensley's pitch-ing hand limited his effective-ness through six starts at the beginning of the season. He was 1-3 with a 7.62 earned run aver-age when the groin injury sent him to the disabled list.

Hensley was called up Wednesday and pitched three scoreless innings Thursday in relief of David Wells. He al-lowed one hit and two walks and struck out one.

"It was encouraging to see the movement on the fastball," San Diego manager Bud Black said. "He looks as though he's throw-ing free and easy."

Black said Hensley will re-main in the bullpen but could get a chance to start again. Black said starter Chris Young will miss a turn in the rotation Sunday because of an oblique injury but said Hensley was "more than likely not" going to take Young's turn.

Hensley is a four-pitch pitcher whose mechanics were revamped during his one season with Lamar. Gilligan said Hensley's delivery was rebuilt to allow for a longer and smoother arm action.

"He (Gilligan) is the one who kind of turned me into a pitcher," said Hensley, an out-fielder who pitched occasionally at Pearland High School and Alvin Community College.

Hensley, 27, transferred to Lamar for the 2002 season. He set a school record for strikeouts in a season with 127 and a game with 17. Gilligan noted Hensley's ninth-inning appear-ance the Southland Conference Tournament championship game against Northwestern State as his most memorable.

"He got the first two outs and the next batter was the best hitter in the league," Gilligan said. "On the first pitch, he made him look so bad I put my clipboard down and said, 'I'm going to sit back and enjoy these last two strikes.' That's how dominant he was."

Selected in the eighth round of the 2002 draft by San Fran-cisco, Hensley was traded the next season to San Diego. He said he never missed a start because of injury until this season, his sixth as a profes-sional.

Hensley was 11-12 with a 3.71 ERA last season, his first full season with the Padres. He made five playoff appearances in 2005 and 2006.

Although not with the big-league club for most of the sea-son, Hensley said he has soaked up the experience of playing alongside 340-game winner Greg Maddux, today's starter against Roy Oswalt.

"For guys like me, you just try to soak that up and take full advantage of the knowledge the guy has," Hensley said. "It's great being around these guys again."

[DP#1FAN]

good luck

[Ruckdad]

Just got himself in the record books too, gave up #755 to Bonds on Saturday night.