Garrett Richards’ grip on fifth rotation spot slips a bit

Reporting from Tempe, Ariz. -- Garrett Richards’ seemingly firm grip on the fifth rotation spot may have slipped a bit Monday, not so much because of the rookie right-hander’s somewhat shaky performance in a 6-2 exhibition loss to the Colorado Rockies in Tempe Diablo Stadium.

The bigger development, as it pertains to Richards, took place a few miles up the road in Phoenix, where Jerome Williams, Richards’ primary competition for the job, finally returned after sitting out more than three weeks because of a left hamstring strain.

Starting a triple-A game against the Oakland Athletics, Williams gave up one hit in three scoreless innings, striking out four, walking one and throwing 41 pitches. He fielded a dribbler in front of the mound and covered first base on a grounder to the right side once and had no issues with his leg.

“It felt great,” said Williams, whose 4-0 record and 3.68 earned-run average in 10 games after an Aug. 17 promotion to the Angels last season made him the front-runner for the job entering camp. “I was anxious to get back out there.

“It was frustrating sitting in the clubhouse and seeing everyone playing and competing, watching these guys perform. I just wanted to get back out there. It is a competition. Everyone knows that. You can’t control that. You can only control how you perform.”

Richards had a 3-0 record and 2.00 ERA in nine innings over his first three starts, but he wasn’t as sharp against the Rockies, giving up six runs--four earned--and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five, walking three, hitting one batter and throwing two wild pitches.

Richards gave up two unearned runs in the fourth after left fielder Bobby Abreu, battling the sun, dropped a fly ball near the line and two more in the fifth on Jason Giambi’s two-run single.

Asked if the outing was a step back, Richards said, “Not at all. I made some pitches, got some ground balls when I needed. I was happy with my performance. ... There’s one spot open. I’m just trying to push the envelope, make the decision for them as tough as possible.”

Manager Mike Scioscia thought Richards “threw the ball well, definitely better than his line score showed. His confidence was high, he pounded his fastball and threw some really good breaking balls, too.”

The Angels weren’t able to muster much offensively, but Kendrys Morales, who is trying to return after sitting out 1 1/2 years because of a broken left ankle, had three singles in four at-bats, all from the right side, to improve his average to .615 (eight for 13) in his first four spring games.

And shortstop Erick Aybar made a spectacular play in the first inning, lunging toward the middle to field Dexter Fowler’s grounder and, with his back to the infield, making a no-look, reverse, underhand flip to second baseman Howie Kendrick for a force out.

But Aybar suffered a minor injury on the play, bending the fingernail on his right thumb, and he left the game after three innings.

“It’s more a nuisance than anything else,” Scioscia said. “We got him out of there, because we want him to play [Tuesday].”

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Garrett Richards’ grip on fifth rotation spot slips a bit