Fresno’s Vogelsong finding comfort zone

Last year, Ryan Vogelsong opened the season with two stellar starts in Triple A before compiling a career year for the San Francisco Giants.

Vogelsong has started this season in similar fashion, making two strong rehabilitation starts for Fresno (5-1) after suffering a back strain in February.

The veteran right-hander was sharp in his final tuneup Tuesday night at Cashman Field -- allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and one walk in six innings while earning the victory in a 10-5 win over the 51s (1-5).

The 34-year-old Vogelsong -- who tossed four scoreless innings Thursday in a 3-0 win over Tucson -- fired 93 pitches, 60 for strikes.

"I felt a lot more comfortable on the mound than I did the last time in Tucson," he said after his outing. "This is kind of spring training for me. I definitely felt like last week I was still behind everybody else.

"Tonight was a good step in the right direction. I'm starting to feel a little bit better out there every inning."

Vogelsong faced only one batter more than the minimum through five innings before giving up two singles and a two-run double to Travis Snider in the sixth.

"All my pitches were pretty good," he said. "I was just a little inconsistent at times, as far as my timing to the plate."

Vogelsong is scheduled to make his first start for the Giants on Sunday at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "I've still got some things I need to clean up, but everything is pretty close to where I want it."

After being out of the majors for four years -- three in Japan (2007 to 2009) and one in the minors (2010) -- Vogelsong returned with a vengeance last season, going 13-7 with a team-leading 2.71 ERA for San Francisco.

He also received the first All-Star selection of his 15-year career and attracted a lot of attention along the way.

"It was tough not to get too caught up in all of it," he said. "I really just tried to stay start to start, and that helped me out a lot."

Vogelsong, designated for assignment by the Pirates shortly before bolting for Japan, wasn't able to fully appreciate his accomplishments until after the season.

"At the end of the year, I finally got the chance to go home and kind of think about the season and how awesome it was and how much of a miracle it was," he said. "Hopefully I can put another one together like that this year, and maybe better, and help us get back in the playoffs."

Originally drafted by the Giants in 1998, Vogelsong was dealt to the Pirates in 2001 for Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal.

Used mostly as a long reliever by Pittsburgh, he compiled a career-low 4.43 ERA in 44 appearances in 2005. But after posting a 6.39 ERA in 2006, he was released and headed to Japan, for the most part to re-establish himself as a starter.

"I'd go 14 or 15 days without pitching (for the Pirates) and, at age 26 or 27, that wasn't what the big leagues were about for me," he said. "My dream was to be in the big leagues and playing, not sitting around watching everybody else play. It was very difficult."

Vogelsong, rewarded by the Giants in January with a $8.3 million, two-year contract, said his main goal this season is to become stronger mentally.

"That had a lot to do with my success last year, and I feel I can still get better at it," he said. "I think concentration's a big part of this game, and there's always room for improvement in that area."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.