DENVER – Only Hector Sanchez could injure himself three different ways on one play.
The man they call El Iman (Spanish for magnet) did more than sprain his left ankle while trying to beat out a sacrifice bunt Saturday at Coors Field. He also strained his left hamstring and sustained a mid-foot sprain.
It’s a wonder he didn’t smack his head when he entered the MRI chamber.
“Oh, that would be the perfect day,” said Sanchez, able to find humor despite being out for the remainder of the season. “I felt it behind my knee. When I got up and tried to put pressure on my foot, I felt my ankle. I said, `Whaaat? It’s very painful. Oh, not good.
“The worst thing is I got out. Hey, it was a perfect bunt. That was an easy base hit.”
Sanchez was just starting to heat up with the bat, too. He got a pinch single off Clayton Kershaw at Dodger Stadium and he doubled and scored earlier in Saturday’s game to give the Giants their first lead in 44 innings.
Even Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who has seen Sanchez take every manner of basball shrapnel over the years, marveled at what happened in the fourth inning Saturday.
“Unbelievable what happened on that 90-foot run,” Bochy said. “Three injuries in one shot. I don’t know what happened first, in what order. You wouldn’t think running 90 feet would be that hazardous.”
The first base line at Coors is cursed, though. Santiago Casilla blew out his hamstring here last year. So did left-hander David Huff.
“Maybe someone put rocks down,” Sanchez said.
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With Andrew Susac (sprained wrist) also out for the season and Buster Posey the only healthy catcher on the roster, the Giants purchased the contract of Jackson Williams from Double-A Richmond.
There’s a nice homecoming story here. Williams, 29, was one of the Giants’ three sandwich picks in the 2007 draft – another recent returnee, Nick Noonan, is another – and he spent seven years in the minor league system. Although Williams didn’t reach the majors over that time, he was a non-roster staple every spring and caught most of their pitchers through the minors. He was Madison Bumgarner’s first professional catcher way back at Low-A Augusta.
Williams signed as a minor league free agent with the Rockies last season and made his major league debut in a Colorado uniform at AT&T Park. He played in seven games for the Rockies and went 3 for 14, getting his first big league home run in the process.
The Angels claimed Williams off waivers after the season but didn’t have room to keep him. The Giants acquired him in the spring for cash considerations and sent him to Double-A Richmond, knowing his experience, receiving skills and thoughtful handling of pitchers could help their prospects there.
Williams had a flight home to Broken Arrow, Okla., on Tuesday, after the minor league season ended. Instead, he got a phone call to be ready to report to the big leagues – finally, wearing the uniform of the team that drafted him. A month’s slice of the $507,500 major league minimum salary was a nice add-on, too.
“I called my wife and she freaked out,” Williams said. “All good, obviously.”
Although the circumstances weren’t ideal, Bochy said it was a pleasure to welcome Williams to the clubhouse. He’s obviously well respected and liked by the coaching staff, front office and fellow players. He’ll get occasional starts when Posey needs a day. Maybe Bumgarner will even acquiesce to let Posey take a rest on his day to pitch.
“From the day I got drafted in 2007, the plan was to be here with them and play with them and it finally happened,” Williams said.
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Nori Aoki will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday and meet with concussion specialist Dr. Mickey Collins on Wednesday. Bochy remains hopeful that Aoki will be able to play again this season.
Aoki also talked to Brandon Belt, who had very similar symptoms after being hit in the head by a thrown ball last season.
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Joe Panik (lower back inflammation) came out of his last rehab game at Triple-A Sacramento with no issues. He will be activated on Monday. Good chance he’s in the lineup, Bochy said.
Bochy made a point to praise Kelby Tomlinson for the job he did while Panik was out. This is how you take advantage of an opportunity. Tomlinson looks like a part of the big league roster moving forward. It’s similar to the way Matt Duffy just kept forcing the issue last season.
The Giants thought Duffy could be their super-utility player this year. He turned into their starting third baseman. Now they are thinking Tomlinson could fit in that super-utility mold. Although there haven’t been formal discussions, Bochy likes the idea of Tomlinson getting some outfield work next spring to expand that utility.
“This kid’s done a terrific job,” Bochy said. “We had a need and he filled it more than we expected. The kid should be very proud of how he’s played. He’s made some noise. You look at the future, and he’s in the mix.”
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Jeremy Affeldt (knee) threw off a bullpen mound at the club’s Arizona complex. He’ll be active and available to pitch Monday at Chase Field, Bochy said.
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Wish there was something new on Hunter Pence (oblique), who is taking swings off a tee. Until he starts taking swings against live pitching, Bochy continued to have no timetable for his right fielder’s return.
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Here’s Sunday’s lineup. If Bumgarner earns a victory, he’ll step up the chances of becoming the first Giant to win 20 games since 1993 (Bill Swift, John Burkett). Bumgarner is16-7 and probably has five more starts after this one.
And keep an eye on the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, who will try to become just the seventh player in major league history to homer in seven consecutive games. Barry Bonds did it for the Giants in 2004. The all-time record is eight, set by Dale Long and matched by Don Mattingly and Ken Griffey Jr.
CF Blanco, 2B Tomlinson, 3B Duffy, C Posey, RF Byrd, 1B Belt, SS Crawford, LF Perez, P Bumgarner.
The post Giants notes: Hector Sanchez injures himself three times on one play, a long-awaited promotion for Jackson Williams, Kelby Tomlinson carves out a future despite Joe Panik's return, Nori Aoki update, etc. appeared first on Giants Extra.