Counting on Longoria
Days before the trade deadline, the Giants added a middleof-the-order hitter without giving up assets in return.
It was a simple reinstatement of third baseman Evan Longoria, whom the Giants hope can make a difference on a team that plays an abundance of close games — 37 one-run decisions alone, tied for the third-most in the majors.
“All in all, I feel healthy and happy to be back in a spot where we’ve got a chance to make a push and make it interesting down the stretch,” Longoria said.
After missing 34 games with a broken left hand, Longoria returned to the lineup Thursday and singled in his first two at-bats against Milwaukee’s Wade Miley. At the time of his June 14 injury, Longoria led the Giants in RBIs and extra-base hits and was second in homers.
This will be the first time in six years he won’t play at least 156 games.
“It really makes you appreciate how much you love the game,” Longoria said. “I’ve played the last five, six years without going on the DL. I knew if I had a rough day, I’d have tomorrow. When that gets taken away from you, it’s tough. It pushes you to work harder to get yourself in a good spot when you come back.”
Longoria had 14 at-bats in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento and was plunked on his left triceps Sunday (it was just a bruise), which slightly delayed his return. There was talk Longoria would play an extra game Thursday, but he convinced management he was ready.
“I said to Bobby (Evans, general manager), in terms of being comfortable against a guy and getting at-bats, I’d rather take my chances here against a guy like Miley, who I’ve seen (33 career at-bats), rather than face a minor-league guy I’ve never faced in a completely different situation,” Longoria said.
It didn’t take much convincing.
“We need him now,” manager Bruce Bochy said. Briefly: Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Brian Wilson will be added to the Giants’ Wall of Fame before Saturday’s game. The ceremony will begin at 2 p.m . ... Bochy plans to take a red-eye to New York on Saturday night to celebrate the Hall of Fame induction of Trevor Hoffman, his closer in San Diego . ... Second baseman Joe Panik (groin strain), rehabbing with Sacramento, is scheduled to play all nine innings Saturday . ... Reliever Hunter Strickland (broken hand) was cleared to begin throwing.