Minor leaguer suspended

PITTSBURGH — Joan Gregorio, a 6-foot-7 starter, was pitching so well for Triple-A Sacramento the Giants were close to promoting him more than once in June to help the bullpen. He was even pulled from his warm-ups before a game in Las Vegas as the Giants weighed a move.

Had Gregorio not injured his back last week he might have been inside the Giants clubhouse Saturday morning when the league announced he had failed a test for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol, resulting in a suspension without pay for the rest of the season.

The drug test taints the good numbers Gregorio posted for Sacramento. The 25-year-old had a 3.04 ERA in 13 starts.

A healthy Gregorio might have been the pitcher recalled from Sacramento on Saturday to replace Dan Slania. Instead, Chris Stratton got the call and

arrived in time for the game.

Manager Bruce Bochy called the less experienced Slania a “stopgap guy,” needed when Mark Melancon went on the disabled list Wednesday. At least Slania got his first big-league inning Friday night before he was returned to Double-A Richmond.

Stratton pitched twice in an April call-up. He nearly got promoted again June 1, which turned into a long, strange day for the pitcher and infielder Christian Arroyo.

The Giants thought the league might rule on reliever Hunter Strickland’s suspension appeal that day. They were planning to option Arroyo to Sacramento and recall Stratton to got a fresh bullpen arm.

But the Giants took off for Philadelphia still unsure whether Strickland would start serving his suspension, so they told Stratton and Arroyo to sit tight at SFO until they got final word.

When the Giants learned Strickland would remain active, they had Arroyo fly to Philadelphia to remain with the Giants and sent Stratton to Albuquerque to rejoin the River Cats.

“I thought I was going up three different times that day,” Stratton said. “It’s all part of the job.” Arroyo, Upton back: Arroyo, who has not played since he was hit in the hand by a pitch June 14, was reinstated from the Triple-A disabled list and activated at Sacramento.

Joining Arroyo is Melvin Upton Jr., the 12-year bigleague outfielder whom the Giants signed to a minorleague deal after spring training. Upton is back from a hand fracture he suffered when he was hit by a pitch in an extended-spring game in April.