Aching Crawford sits
LOS ANGELES — Stability is a vital asset to any team’s pennant contention, and the Giants are running short at the worst time. Tuesday night found them missing shortstop Brandon Crawford, again, and delivering some bad news to outfielder Justin Maxwell.
On the first day of roster expansion, the Giants purchased the contract of infielder Nick Noonan, the onetime Giants prospect who had been playing for Triple-A Sacramento after being released by the Yankees. Manager Bruce Bochy said they had no choice but to designate Maxwell for assignment.
“It’s unfortunate,” Bochy said. “Justin gave us a real shot in the arm early on, with some big home runs, but he had a tough June, and lately he’s just been off with his timing. We were pretty desperate for infield help, and now we’ve got a surplus of outfielders. We had to make a spot today.”
That surplus came in the form of Angel Pagan, who came off the disabled list and started in center field, and Alejandro De Aza, acquired from the Red Sox on Monday and thrown into the starting lineup ahead of Nori Aoki in left field.
There’s a measure of concern about Crawford, who took a pitch off his lower left calf in the 13th inning Monday night and was in tremendous pain. He stayed in the game, but showed up Tuesday “pretty sore,” Bochy said. “That calf swelled up pretty good. My guess is that he’ll be out a couple of days.”
Tim Hudson joined Pagan coming off the disabled list, pitched to two batters in the eighth and might get a start in Colorado. Two other transactions found catcher Hector Sanchez and right-handed reliever Cody Hall recalled from Sacramento. Hall had a 3.46 ERA in 43 appearances, striking out 55 batters in 672⁄3 innings. Briefly: The Giants could have placed pitcher Tim Lincecum on the 60-day DL to make room for Noonan, but general manager Bobby Evans said he’s holding that as an option for future transactions if another relief pitcher is called up. ... Bochy and trainer Dave Groeschner confirmed a CBS Sports report that Lincecum will meet with Dr. Marc Philippon ,arenowned hip specialist, during the Giants’ upcoming trip to Colorado, possibly to discuss a operation that would allow him to pitch next season.