SAN FRANCISCO -- Clayton Richard hopes to build upon some sensational statistics since joining the San Diego Padres when he faces the playoff-contending San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.
The 33-year-old, twice a 14-game winner earlier in his career with the Padres, has gone 2-2 with a 1.15 ERA in seven appearances, including five starts, since rejoining the club in August after a two-year stint with the Chicago Cubs.
The left-hander has been better than ever in recent efforts, allowing just one run over his last three starts. Two of those outings were on the road against teams competing with the Giants for playoff positions -- the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Giants (77-66) currently trail the Los Angeles Dodgers (81-62) by four games in the National League West. San Francisco leads the NL wild-card race.
Even Richard's two losses as a Padre were impressive. He allowed a total of two earned runs in losses to the New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks when he was given a grand total of two runs of offensive support.
Richard has struck out 26 in his 31 1/3 innings for the Padres.
The matchup of the night could be Richard against one of baseball's hottest hitters, Giants right fielder Hunter Pence.
Pence will take a 13-for-20 (.650) streak into the game, having gone 2-for-4 in Monday's 4-0 loss to Paul Clemens and the Padres.
Pence is hitting .481 (13-for-27) against the Padres this season, but he's gone just 1-for-9 with three strikeouts in his career against Richard.
"We've had guys hot and cold since the break. We have not been consistent," Giants manager Bruce Bochy lamented after Monday's shutout, which came on the heels of a three-game winning streak during which San Francisco scored 23 runs. "It looked like we came out of it in Arizona. It sure looks bad to get shut out when you get back home the first day.
The Giants will counter on the mound with Albert Suarez, who has pitched well enough as an injury-replacement starter this season to retain a rotation spot even after veterans Matt Cain and Jake Peavy have returned to the active roster.
Suarez has gone 3-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 19 games, splitting time between the starting rotation (nine) and the bullpen (10).
The rookie has faced the Padres just once this season, that having been in relief on July 16, when he kept San Diego scoreless for 1 2/3 innings despite allowing two hits and three walks.
Suarez will be facing a Padres team that rode catcher Hector Sanchez's three-hit night to the series-opening win Monday.
Sanchez, who spent his first five seasons with the Giants, broke open the win with a two-run homer off Jeff Samardzija in the sixth inning.
It was his third homer of the season, and just his third in 119 career games at AT&T Park.
"He has to feel good about hitting a homer here," Padres manager Andy Green said of Sanchez after the game. "I'm sure he's got some great memories here."
The Padres' win was their fourth straight over the Giants after they had opened the season with nine consecutive losses against their California rival.
San Diego had lost 11 in a row in San Francisco before Monday.
