1 man falls, another rises

SAN DIEGO — Minorleague organizational players know their time in The Show usually will arrive when somebody on the big club gets hurt or falls into a slump. Imagine how Justin Christian felt when he was told to pack for San Diego because Melky Cabrera was suspended for failing a drug test.

“It was a shock for me coming up here because of that,” Christian said. “At the same time, that’s why you play down there, stay in shape and get your at-bats, because when certain things come up, you’re ready.”

His connection to Cabrera runs deep. They played together in the Yankees’ minor-league system, and Cabrera was in pinstripes when Christian got his first 40 big-league at-bats in 2008, as a Yankee.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” he said. “It’s one of those situations you don’t wish on anybody. There’s a lot of pressure in this game for people to do well. You want to do the best you can and do it the right way.”

Christian figures to start games in left field against left-handed pitchers, as he did Saturday night. He went 0for-4. Crawford’s rise: Manager Bruce Bochy was asked several weeks ago whether he would accept a .250 batting average from Brandon Crawford with his defensive abilities. Bochy said yes emphatically.

Crawford, whose average has hovered in the .230s and .240s since mid-June, hit .419 in 31 at-bats during a hitting streak that reached nine games Friday night when he doubled to start the Giants’ eight-run third inning.

Bochy cited mechanical reasons for Crawford’s improvement — a shorter stride and swing that allow him to stay back longer — but said there is more to it.

“I just think it was a matter of him getting settled in here,” Bochy said. “Now we’re in August. He knows what it’s about. He has a sense of comfort playing and a sense of belonging that takes time.”

Meantime, the streak ended Saturday when he was used as a pinch hitter and grounded out in the ninth inning. He’s batting .246.