Yastrzemski said ‘no’ to 8

PHOENIX — Giants newcomer Alex Dickerson was asked before Friday night’s game if there was any significance to his uniform number, 8.

“You’re the first one to tell me what my number is,” said Dickerson, who had been called up from Triple-A Sacramento. So, no.

Which raises the question: Why isn’t Mike Yastrzemski wearing No. 8?

That was his grandfather’s number, and it seemed to work OK for the great Carl Yastrzemski, who collected 3,419 hits over a 23-year Hall of Fame career with Boston.

Actually, the Giants offered it, among other numbers. (It was Hunter Pence’s number. And Gerardo Parra’s.) Mike Yastrzemski preferred 5.

“I had the opportunity,” he said, “but I figured because of my name, there’s going to be some spotlight. I don’t need to draw more attention to myself. I want to blend in and be part of the team. I felt I was playing

well with 5 (at Sacramento), so I’d just stick with it.

“They could have given me No. 1,057, I would’ve accepted it.”

Did Yastrzemski ever wear 8? “Little League,” he said. “I think people just gave it to me. Once I got to high school and had more of a choice, I started to branch out a little bit.”

By the way, he’s fine with being called “Yaz,” his grandfather’s legendary nickname.

“That’s not an issue at all. It’s what I’m used to,” he said.

Duggar to IL: Steven Duggar was placed on the injured list with lower back tightness. He felt it on a swing Tuesday in Los Angeles and sat out Wednesday’s

and Thursday’s games. Manager Bruce Bochy said he expects Duggar to be reinstated when eligible on June 29.

The bunt: A day after a controversial ninth-inning play that started with Tyler Austin’s bunt, Bochy explained why he gave the sign. The Giants had two runners aboard with no outs and trailed 9-8, and Austin put down a bunt, but Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger threw to third to force Stephen Vogt.

Replays appeared to show Vogt was safe, and the Giants were fuming when the call wasn’t overturned.

“In that situation,” Bochy said, “we’d have the tying run at

third and winning run at second with (Buster) Posey and (Brandon) Belt coming up, so I like my chances of at least tying the game if not taking the lead. In fairness, Austin gets most of his work against lefties. It was a pretty good bunt. Hey, you still have to play the game sometimes, and that one made sense.”

Waiver claim: Outfielder Joey Rickard was claimed off waivers from the Orioles and will report to Sacramento. Reliever Nick Vincent was moved to the 60-day injured list.