The Wolverine

  MICHIGAN IN THE PROS — all in his first season after being drafted. "Larkin is an explosive skater with above-average hands, very good all-around hockey sense and a great motor. He's not a super flashy player, but he's super effective every shift. His combination of size and speed is a handful for defensemen to contain." NHL NOTES • ESPN Boston's Joe McDonald reports that Montreal Canadiens' standout and former Wolverine Max Pacioretty will have another scan taken on his knee once rehab increases and he talks with team docs, but that his rehab from a knee injury suffered in early July was "on schedule." He should be skating with the team at the beginning of Oc- tober, about a week before Montreal opens the season against Toronto. MLB CLAYTON RICHARD SHINING IN RELIEF ROLE Former Michigan pitcher Clayton Richard pitched two scoreless in- nings, giving up only one hit and striking out three, in the Chicago Cubs' 6-5 win over the crosstown White Sox Aug. 14, continuing his comeback from major shoulder sur- gery. His fastball has been reaching 95 miles per hour and his confidence continues to grow. "He was huge," Chicago's An- thony Rizzo said during the post- game. "Clayton coming in, giving us those innings was huge. He threw up zeros." The former starter has adjusted to his role in relief, manager Joe Mad- don said. "He's really good out of the bull- pen," Maddon said. "He's going to keep doing that kind of work for us." Richard was out of the league for a year due to thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition in which the nerves and blood vessels in the lower neck and upper chest are compressed and re- quired removal of his first rib and muscle in his neck. "It's been a long process," Richard told The Chicago Tribune of his road back, which went through the mi- nors in Arizona and Pittsburgh after San Diego released him in 2013. "I've been through a couple shoulder is- sues and finally got that corrected. It took a while after that to get comfort- able with a delivery with a healthy shoulder. It had been so long that I've had a healthy shoulder. It's taken some time, but it's nice to finally be getting that back. It's a big help." Richard stood 3-0 with a 3.70 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 24 1 ⁄3 innings pitched as of Aug. 17. He said he was still adjusting to being a reliever. "Now it's transitioning to be pre- pared at any time," Richard said. "It's something I'll learn as I go, but I think I have good handle on it." Chicago White Sox pitcher Zach Putnam, U-M's only other major league representative, stood 3-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 39 in- nings pitched as of Aug. 17. He had allowed only one run in his last 10 appearances. ❏

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