San Francisco Giants

Some good news, some bad news.

Hunter Pence has been rehabbing his right thumb issue with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats since April 27. Pence seems to be improving after an incredibly rough start with the Giants, where he posted a slash line of .172/.197/.190 in 58 at-bats. With the River Cats, Pence has a .294 batting average in nine games.

SAN FRANCISCO – The 2018 season has been rife with injuries for the San Francisco Giants. Before Monday night’s game, manager Bruce Bochy gave updated the injury timetables for Madison Bumgarner, Joe Panik, Mark Melancon, and Alan Hansen.

The Giants are 20-21 at the quarter pole of the season, but that should be seen as a success considering everything that’s happened.

Giants second baseman Alen Hanson looked like he tweaked something after scoring from first base on a ripping double by Austin Jackson in the eighth inning of Saturday night’s 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was enough for manager Bruce Bochy to replace Hanson with Kelby Tomlinson on defense in the bottom half of the inning.

In the third inning of Sunday’s game vs. the Pirates, Giants pitcher Derek Holland stepped into the batter’s box with no outs and a runner on first. Holland’s job was straightforward: lay down a bunt to advance the runner to second base, putting him in scoring position with one out, and the top of the lineup upcoming.

Giants second baseman Alen Hanson looked like he tweaked something after scoring from first base on a ripping double by Austin Jackson in the eighth inning of Saturday night’s 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. It was enough for manager Bruce Bochy to replace Hanson with Kelby Thompson on defense in the bottom half of the inning.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Gregory Polanco and Francisco Cervelli homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates took advantage of a sloppy inning by former closer Tony Watson to slip by the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Saturday for their fifth straight victory.

After donning the Yellow and Black for nine seasons, Andrew McCutchen made his return to Pittsburgh for the first time as a member of the San Francisco Giants on Friday evening, and received an extended standing ovation from the 34,720 in attendance. The ovation lasted 45 seconds.

McCutchen’s return was the lone bright spot in another tough loss.