Surprise call-up in Gomez

The Giants made a surprise move Friday, calling up second baseman Miguel Gomez from Double-A Richmond.

“‘Go-Go,’ we call him,” manager Bruce Bochy said. Why Gomez? Why now?

Chris Stratton, who started Thursday in place of Johnny

Cueto (ear infection) and threw 106 pitches, won’t be needed this series with the All-Star break on deck, so the Giants optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento and had the luxury of calling up a hitter.

They liked Gomez, 24, as a bench weapon. The switchhitter flied out Friday as a pinch-hitter.

“I just like the way he attacks the ball from both sides,” Bochy said. “He reminds you a little bit of Pablo Sandoval. He’s got more discipline and not quite the power. Very confident kid. Uses the whole field. Going to get his swings in, and that’s what you like about him.”

Gomez was hitting .305 with eight homers, 19 doubles and 38 RBIs in 78 games, ranking fourth in the Eastern League with 94 hits. The Dominican native is in his sixth season in the Giants’ system.

He primarily caught and played first base his first three seasons, then played mostly third base for two years and only second base this year.

Miami bound: While many of his teammates will hang out on the West Coast with the secondhalf opener in San Diego, catcher Buster Posey will be busy flying to Miami and back as the lone Giant in the All-Star Game.

Posey will leave after Sunday afternoon’s game, and why not simply hop aboard the Marlins’ Miami-bound charter? There was talk between the teams about such an arrangement.

Unlike the Giants and other teams, the Marlins don’t have family trips in which spouses and children tag along. Posey is bringing his family to Miami.

It didn’t work out, but baseball makes sure All-Stars fly in comfort regardless.

Slater, Jones on shelf: Left fielder Austin Slater reinjured his hip running out a groundout in the eighth inning and will go on the disabled list. He has missed time with a right hip flexor and will have an MRI.

Conor Gillaspie (back spasms) was activated from the DL, and fellow third baseman

Ryder Jones (right wrist contusion) went on the DL. Jones was hit by a pitch last Saturday. Gillaspie missed 40 games, returned but had a setback and missed nine more games.