SAN DIEGO -- Back in March, Cla Meredith said it would be hard to replicate the 1.07 ERA he posted last year. But the difference between knowing a fall would come, and dealing with it has been a learning experience for the 24-year-old.

Meredith, who entered Thursday with a 3.43 ERA, saw his record drop to 4-6 on Wednesday when Colorado's Ian Stewart hit an 0-2 pitch off him for a two-run single. Last year, Meredith was 5-1.

The outing was the first in 10 games in which Meredith yielded a run.

"I thought it was a pretty good pitch," Meredith said. "And kind of like a lot of other ground balls I've given up this year, it made its way through the hole. … I'm certainly not hanging my head. There's been a lot of outings where I wished things would have gone more my way. Last year that ball got caught."

By Meredith's count, he has lost four games in which the ball hasn't left the infield.

Nevertheless, Meredith sees a lot of positives from his second year. Pitching coach Darren Balsley agrees.

One plus, Balsley said, has been the addition of a changeup. Another has been how Meredith has carried himself despite his struggles.

"He has more weapons," Balsley said. "He's handled it great. He knows, even though his numbers are a little inflated, there's been a lot of times where he actually threw the ball well."

Said Meredith: "I by no means came into the season thinking I was going to blow everybody away. I've learned a lot this year, and the things I've learned are hopefully going to keep me around a while."

Bradley almost there

The Padres hope outfielder Milton Bradley will be available to pinch-hit in time for tonight's series opener against Houston. But the outfielder, who had a successful on-field workout Thursday, might not be ready to start until Tuesday in New York.

Bradley said his hamstring has improved greatly after feeling sore in Cincinnati last Friday, in part because he was shut down Saturday through Monday. He has now passed several tests, including a running drill Wednesday and fielding on Thursday.

Though he's encouraged, Bradley -- a .360 hitter since joining the team -- wants to remain on the field once he returns.

"When it's feeling ready, a couple of more days aren't going to kill you," Bradley said. "I want to play, but you gotta be smart. I'd rather be there for the long haul."

Manager Bud Black kept a close eye on Bradley's activities Thursday and was encouraged.

"He went after it pretty hard," Black said.

Outfield options

With several outfielders ailing, the Padres signed University of San Diego alumnus Brady Clark to a minor-league deal. And two days after he started at first base -- his first major-league start away from third -- Morgan Ensberg took fly balls in left field.

Black has said he's impressed by the athletic abilities of Ensberg, a shortstop at USC, and added that he could see time in the outfield.

"He's a sharp guy," Black said. "He realizes his versatility could be an asset to the team. … I think Morgan's willing to do anything to win."