If Renteria's hamstring is slow to heal, the Giants still could disable him retroactive to Thursday and recall Kevin Frandsen from Triple-A Fresno.

Bochy said Juan Uribe would be his interim shortstop and that the Giants could utilize several players in Renteria's No. 2 spot. Renteria ranks second on the club in RBI and has outperformed gloomy scouting reports from the spring.

"I expected a solid shortstop and a professional hitter, and that's what he's been," Bochy said of Renteria. "He's a good teammate, and he's been good for the rest of the guys. He has a calmness about him."

Renteria also has been pleased with his start and his teammates, too.

"I've been feeling good," Renteria said. "The whole year I've been moving better on defense. I've gotten some big hits when we needed it, and the team is playing good. "... This is a surprise team. Why not? If I'm not expecting (to win) this year, then I go home."

Burriss impressed

It didn't take long for second baseman Emmanuel Burriss to discover what Renteria is all about. It dawned on him on a recent afternoon while turning double plays with Renteria. It was four hours before the first pitch.

"I started thinking, 'Man, he comes out every day like he's got something to prove,'"?" Burriss said. "He doesn't go through the motions. I'm tired some days, I'll admit it. But I see him, I know I've got to turn it up. He's doing it in his 14th year. There's no reason I can't do it in my second."

Short hop

An inning before he injured his leg, Renteria showed off his veteran savvy. With David Wright at first base, Fernando Tatis lifted a fly ball to right field and Renteria faked like he was about to take a cutoff throw. The deke fooled Wright, who was nearly doubled off first base.

"When I saw that, I was like, 'Atta boy,'"?" Burriss said. "It almost worked."

Andrew Baggarly, MediaNews staff