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: --RF Randy Winn was 0-for-4, and so was LF Fred Lewis. Both had hit safely in each of the Giants' first seven games. Lewis struck out four times Wednesday, Winn once.
--RHP Joe Martinez, who was hit on the forehead by a Mike Cameron liner and sustained a concussion, three hairline skull fractures and internal bleeding, was released from a San Francisco hospital. He's resting at home, at ease now that his parents have flown in from New Jersey to care for him. No exact timetable has been set for his return, but it's looking to be later rather than sooner because he has been told to refrain from any straining activity for a month.
--LHP Barry Zito will try to rebound in his second start Thursday, and Dodger Stadium isn't a bad place for it. Zito is 3-1 with a 2.73 ERA in four appearances at the Dodgers' home yard. In his first start this year, Zito gave up four runs and seven hits in four innings at San Diego's Petco Park.
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
