It’s still spring training, so who’s counting, really?

Tyson Ross reached 11 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings Saturday, but it was his actual substance on the mound that impressed Padres manager Bud Black.

“I thought we saw fastball-command improvement and a good slider,” Black said after Ross pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings in a 10-6 victory over Arizona.

Pitching coach Darren Balsley has been working with Ross on a higher leg kick.

“Darren thinks he’s making a lot of improvements with his mechanics,” Black said. “I think that’ll help him get more consistently in the zone.”

Whether it’ll be enough to get the 6-foot-6 right-hander a spot in the rotation is the bigger question. He's one of several candidates for the No. 5 position.