Pence never says never

Only Hunter Pence, traditionally one of the game’s true iron men, could be ruled out for the season but still hold out hope. Coming to grips with his injury-filled season has been difficult for him to accept.

In the Giants’ clubhouse before Friday night’s game in Oakland, Pence said “there’s still a chance” he could recover from his oblique injury and play in a game or two, “but I still can’t swing a bat, so ... I don’t want to say anything that’s not in stone.”

Manager Bruce Bochy has made it clear the Giants aren’t about to risk an aggravation of Pence’s injury, and he understands that. “I’m just trying my best to get back,” Pence said. “The frustrating part is that I had one of the best offseasons I’ve ever had in terms of preparation and getting in shape. To have this happen — it’s tough to catch up when you get a broken wrist on Day 2 and can’t even get out of spring training. That’s why it’s been so difficult for me.” Zito’s world: Barry Zito had his best years in Oakland, winning a Cy Young Award and four postseason games, but he lists the 2012 World Series, with the Giants, as his career highlight. “That’s what we want. We want that trophy,” he said. “As much as personal success and accolades are great, there’s nothing like coming together as a team, everyone’s holding up that trophy, tasting Champagne, you’re freezing cold, you’re soaking wet — that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Briefly: Zack Greinke, scratched from his last start with a calf injury, will return to the Dodgers’ rotation Monday for the opener of a four-game series at AT&T Park, facing Jake Peavy. And it’s Clayton Kershaw-Madison Bumgarner on Tuesday. ... Bochy ruled out the possibility of waiving the designated-hitter rule Saturday so Zito and Tim Hudson could hit — “although I think we’d have the edge there,” Bochy said with a smile. Zito wouldn’t disagree. He had such difficulty pulling the ball during his Giants stint, “They’d probably line up with seven guys at shortstop,” Zito said.