Sandoval ‘close’ after HR
There’s Panda in the lobby of an apartment building! At the supermarket! Walking down the street in SoMa!
Yes, Pablo Sandoval was in San Francisco on Wednesday. No, he is not being promoted to the majors. Triple-A Sacramento had a day off before flying to Omaha on Thursday. Sandoval is going to Omaha, too.
“He’s going to continue to play and get his at-bats,” manager Bruce Bochy said. Bochy did not even know Sandoval was in town. The third baseman did not come to AT&T Park.
“When the time comes, it will happen,” Bochy said. “Right now, we feel it’s still important for him to get at-bats. He has missed a lot of playing time, not just this year. I know he hit a home run last night, so he’s close. It’s a little different up here.”
Sandoval, whom the Giants signed to a no-risk minorleague deal July 20 after the Red Sox released him, has had 44 minor-league plate appearances, with Sacramento and Class A San Jose. He is 8for-34, a .235 average. His homer Tuesday night was a classic Sandoval hit. He golfed an ankle-high pitch the other way over the short left-field wall at Raley Field in Sacramento.
After Wednesday’s game, Jae-Gyun Hwang was optioned to Sacramento and Conor Gillaspie was designated for assignment. Ryder Jones was recalled; he figures to receive playing time at third base, although he has played mainly right field for Sacramento. Cueto relieved: Johnny Cueto said he thought the worst when he felt pain in his forearm as he threw a pitch in a rehab game at San Jose on Monday.
“Of course, I got scared,” Cueto said through interpreter Erwin Higueros. “I felt a pinch and I thought, ‘Oh my God. I’m going to have Tommy John here.’ ”
An MRI exam showed his elbow ligament intact. Cueto was relieved to hear Dr. Ken Akizuki diagnose him with a flexor strain, the same injury that cost Cueto one start in 2015. Cueto said that one hurt more.
The Giants hope Cueto can play catch after a week’s rest. He said he would have pitched through this had the Giants been in contention but will not rush back now.
“I’m tired of being on the DL,” he said. “I want to make sure when I come back I’m ready.”
Briefly: Matt Cain is listed as Saturday’s starter, but Bochy hinted another pitcher might take that turn. Albert Suarez is a possibility. … Mark Melancon threw 25 pitches at San Jose on Wednesday, 15 in a scoreless inning, 10 more in the bullpen.