Melancon makes progress

Thursday night, Mark Melancon earned his first save in a year and a day ( June 20, 2017) but wasn’t doing cartwheels through the Giants’ clubhouse Friday. It was nice to get the ninth- inning call again, but as the right- hander said, “It’s still a work in progress.”

Physically, Melancon isn’t near his old All- Star self, but Thursday’s 14- pitch save was a step in the right direction in the wake of his pronator surgery in September and stem- cell injection in April.

“I didn’t realize it had been a year,” Melancon said. “Yeah, it felt great. It’s nice to pitch in the ninth. To be honest, I’m just very grateful I can be back and getting outs for this team. It’s been a battle. To be able to be back out there is really the exciting part, to be able to contribute has been really nice.”

Though closer Hunter

Strickland is shelved six to eight weeks with a broken hand, manager Bruce Bochy isn’t ready to call Melancon his replacement. First, Melancon must prove he can pitch multiple days in a row.

“It can be a heavy load at times,” Bochy said. “You run off two, three games in a row, and I don’t think he’s quite ready for that.” Sam Dyson is supposed to get most of the save opportunities in Strickland’s absence, but

Reyes Moronta replaced Dyson in the ninth inningWednesday and earned his first career

save. It was Dyson’s third straight game, so Melancon got the call Thursday. TonyWatson also has closing experience. “I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent, but it’s coming,” Melancon said. “That’s exciting. I can get big outs, and just being out ( on the field) has been fun.”

Melancon, who signed a four- year, $ 62 million contract before the 2017 season to be the Giants’ closer, wouldn’t guess when he’d be able to pitch consecutive days.

“I just want to continue on that path and keep making progress,” he said. “It’s more about the long term, is what I’ve been realizing. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt decent. So any strides I can make, no matter how big or small, it’s a positive.”

Briefly: Jeff Samardzija ( pectoral strain) could make another rehab start after pitching four innings Thursday for Triple- A Sacramento. The Giants might want him to lengthen his pitch count before he’s reinstated from the disabled list. ... Johnny

Cueto ( elbow) is to throw 40 pitches in Saturday’s rehab game with Sacramento.