Angels’ Garrett Richards takes another step in comeback from knee injury

Angels pitcher Garrett Richards on Thursday took another step toward returning from knee surgery by throwing for the first time from a windup during a bullpen session.

Richards threw 25 pitches from the stretch and 25 from the windup in his fourth bullpen of the spring.

Richards said he was “knocking off some cobwebs early, as far as throwing the breaking ball,” but otherwise felt great and would continue to make progress.

Richards was 13-4 with a 2.61 earned-run average last season before he suffered a ruptured tendon in his left knee while covering first base against the Boston Red Sox.

He reiterated that his goal was to be ready by opening day, and that his leg was fine.

“I would say my mechanics are tighter now than they’ve ever been,” he said. “Whether that’s because I’m being more cautious in my delivery or just because I’m just focused on throwing a quality bullpen, I don’t know.

“For whatever reason, I feel like I can repeat my mechanics really well.”