The Giants muscled up in the season opener, hitting three home runs. But in the next five games, zero. The team was last in the majors in homers in 2008, the only team that failed to reach triple digits. The Giants promised more homers this year though no genuine slugger was added. Edgar Renteria was to be an upgrade at shortstop, a position that produced no homers last year, and full seasons out of Pablo Sandoval and Travis Ishikawa were to make a difference. Through April 12, Aaron Rowand, Bengie Molina and Randy Winn had hit a homer. But they all came in the first game.
PLAYER NEWS: --RHP Tim Lincecum has given up seven earned runs and 14 hits in 8 1/3 innings through two starts. He walked six batters and struck out 10. Last year, on his road to the NL Cy Young Award, he never pitched as few as 8 1/3 innings in consecutive starts. He gave up as many as 14 hits in consecutive starts just three times.
--OF/2B Eugenio Velez made an error in center field Sunday, the Giants' second error of the season. They went four games without an error. 3B Pablo Sandoval, a question mark defensively as he's playing third every day for the first time, had no errors through the first week.
--OFs Fred Lewis and Randy Winn have hit safely in every Giants games in 2009. Each went 1-for-4 Monday, and each has a seven-game hit streak to open the season. Before Monday, Lewis had reached base 14 times (in 25 plate appearances), more than anyone else in the NL except St. Louis' Albert Pujols and Florida's Emilio Bonifacio.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Joe Martinez (concussion, hairline fractures in skull) went on the 15-day disabled list April 10. He is unlikely to return before late May.
LHP Noah Lowry (left forearm surgery in March 2008, left elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He hadn't resumed throwing as of opening day.
RHP Sergio Romo (sprained right elbow) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He isn't expected to return in April.
ROTATION:
RHP Tim Lincecum
LHP Randy Johnson
RHP Matt Cain
LHP Barry Zito
LHP Jonathan Sanchez
BULLPEN:
RHP Brian Wilson (closer)
RHP Bobby Howry
LHP Jeremy Affeldt
LHP Alex Hinshaw
RHP Merkin Valdez
RHP Brandon Medders
RHP Justin Miller
CATCHER:
Bengie Molina
INFIELDERS:
1B Travis Ishikawa
2B Emmanuel Burriss
SS Edgar Renteria
3B Pablo Sandoval
INF Juan Uribe
INF Rich Aurilia
INF/OF Eugenio Velez
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Fred Lewis
CF Aaron Rowand
RF Randy Winn
OF Nate Schierholtz
OF Andres Torres
