Melancon still bothered by sore forearm

Hours after Mark Melancon went on the disabled list for the second time Wednesday, the new closer admitted what was obvious: The pain from his right forearm strain was still a problem after a short stay on the DL in May.

“My first time on the DL, it felt really awkward,” Melancon said. “I just wanted to get back out there. That probably wasn’t the smartest decision. I probably rushed back from the DL a little too early.”

Melancon had an MRI exam Tuesday that again revealed the issue is the pronator muscle — not the elbow ligament — and on Wednesday he had a platelet-rich plasma injection where the muscle meets the elbow to promote healing. Melancon does not expect to return before the All-Star break.

Melancon struck out two of his three hitters in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 14-inning win. The issue is pain the next day, not when he pitches.

“We need to get this behind us,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’ll get him some rest. My hope is after 10 days we get this thing cleared up.”

Sam Dyson, who was not a Giant until June 6, will be the interim closer, although Bochy did not have him save Wednesday’s win because he had pitched the two previous nights. Dyson saved 38 games for Texas last year before he fell apart, prompting the trade. He has pitched much better with the Giants.

Melancon’s replacement on the roster was a surprise. Feeling they had no viable option at Triple-A to help a worn bullpen immediately, the Giants promoted Double-A pitcher Dan Slania ,a-reliever-turned-starter.

Slania got a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call in Trenton, N.J., drove to Philadelphia, caught a flight that stopped in Nashville for fuel and arrived at SFO at noon. After the game, he was preparing to fly to Pittsburgh for the Giants’ next series.

“I’ll probably pass out as soon as I get on the plane,” Slania said.

Who’s on third? Notwithstanding Jae-Gyun Hwang’s memorable debut, Bochy plans to reinstall Eduardo Nuñez as the third baseman when he comes off the DL, possibly Friday in Pittsburgh. But Bochy left himself an out.

Austin Slater still is not running well because of a strained hip flexor. That was evident as he tried to beat a throw up the line Wednesday. Bochy said he could start Nuñez in left and Hwang at third.

Hwang was the eighth Giant to play third base this season. Ryder Jones became the 12th left fielder. He did not get a hit, though, leaving him 0-for-16.