POSEY INJURED AS GIANTS FALL
PHOENIX — “Giants torture” is back, but not in the form of the heart-stopping, gut-wrenching, late-inning drama that made watching the club’s on-field product so thrilling earlier in the decade.
Instead, “Giants torture” is back for anyone who takes a look at the team’s injury report.
After manager Bruce Bochy said he had no bombshell injury news to drop before Friday’s 6-3 loss against the Diamondbacks, Bochy found himself escorting catcher Buster Posey off the field so Posey could be monitored for concussion symptoms.
Two days after the Giants announced Johnny Cueto needed season-ending Tommy John surgery and one day following the news infielder Pablo Sandoval would require season-ending surgery to repair a torn hamstring, Posey was the latest player to need assistance from a trainer.
Though the Giants didn’t reveal whether Posey has officially been placed in concussion protocol, he exited shortly after taking a hard foul tip off his catcher’s mask in the bottom of the second inning. After walking off the field following his third inning single Friday, Posey immediately left the dugout with trainer Dave Groeschner.
Posey was replaced by reserve catcher Nick Hundley, who is the only other player with major-league catching experience on the team’s roster. Sandoval was the Giants’
emergency catcher, but his injury robbed the team of an additional option for a nightmare scenario.
A nightmare for the Giants had already unfolded at Chase Field before Posey left Friday’s game as right-hander Chris Stratton allowed five earned runs in the bottom of the first inning against the D’backs. Stratton returned to the rotation to make his first start since July 3 due to Cueto’s injury absence, but may not be a long-term solution for the Giants as he lasted just three innings.
Stratton allowed opposing starter Patrick Corbin to drill a two-run single in the first and opened the bottom of the fourth inning by loading the bases. Bochy pulled Stratton after he had thrown 81 pitches, but inserted Ty Blach who escaped a nearly-impossible situation without allowing a run.
The Giants managed to keep the game within reach by touching up Corbin for a run in the first and two more in the second as rookie Austin Slater recorded a pair of RBI singles. Slater received his fourth consecutive start at first base after Sandoval left Sunday’s game against Milwaukee with a torn hamstring.
Sandoval was initially penciled in as first baseman Brandon Belt’s injury replacement, but Slater has been forced into action and the converted outfielder has seized the opportunity.
Perhaps the only silver lining of the unending list of Giants injuries is that replacements including Slater have typically exceeded expectations and helped the club remain within striking distance in the National League West.
However, with Cueto and right-hander Jeff Samardzija (shoulder inflammation) sidelined, Stratton was unable to provide the Giants with the length they were looking for out of their starting pitcher. For the second straight night, Bochy called on Blach to throw multiple innings as he looked to preserve more of his late-inning options.
It’s unclear whether Stratton will receive another opportunity in the next turn through the Giants rotation, but an upcoming off day on Wednesday would allow Bochy to skip the fifth starter. Regardless of whether Stratton receives an opportunity, the stress placed on the bullpen due to short outings from the Giants’ last two starters will force the club to consider optioning a player to promote a fresh arm ahead of Saturday’s game.
If Posey requires a stint on the concussion disabled list, the Giants may also need to add a catcher before Saturday evening’s game in Arizona. Double-A prospect Aramis Garcia is the only other catcher listed on the team’s 40-man roster.
If the Giants would prefer to promote either of their Triple-A catchers, Trevor Brown or Ronnie Freeman, they can clear a roster space by transferring Cueto or Sandoval to the 60-day disabled list.
Posey was 2-for-2 Friday against Corbin and has raised his average to .297 with 13 hits in his last 25 at-bats.