SAN FRANCISCO -- It was clear early in Wednesday's loss to the Astros that Nori Aoki would be going on the DL. On Thursday, it became official.
Aoki was placed on the 7-day concussion DL a day after coming out after just four innings Wednesday because of dizziness and nausea. The Giants called up outfielder Ryan Lollis, but they don't expect to be without Aoki for long. While concussions are unpredictable, Aoki was in good spirits and said he feels pretty good, and the Giants could ramp up the physical activity in two to three days. The Giants are hopeful that Aoki will return when eligible, but they couldn't go short for two to three days.
"It was a pretty easy decision," Bruce Bochy said. "He needs a little bit of time."
[RELATED: Giants place Aoki on seven-day DL with concussion]
Aoki passed tests on Monday and Tuesday, and he said, through translator Kosuke Inaji, that he was surprised that symptoms popped up during Wednesday's game. He felt some nausea when he took the field and said he had trouble focusing and felt "weak in general."
Aoki spoke with Gregor Blanco, who missed time with a concussion earlier this season, and said this is his first experience with a concussion. He took it easy Thursday and will avoid just about all activities for the rest of the homestand. If all goes according to plan, Aoki will return on the road trip.
--- Tim Hudson will pitch two innings for the San Jose Giants tomorrow, and he'll throw to Andrew Susac. Bochy said Hudson will prepare as a reliever, meaning he will pitch out of the stretch the entire time. Hudson has needed a lot of time to physically warm up before starts this year, but Bochy said that's not much of a concern. The benefit to being in the bullpen is that he won't be as taxed by every outing, so he should hold up physically.
--- #FreeBelt is dead. Long live #ThreeBelt.
Bochy said Brandon Belt hits third tonight because it breaks up the lefties.
"I wasn't real excited about the lineup (yesterday) with that fact," Bochy said.
This breaks up Belt and Brandon Crawford, and also breaks up the Matt Duffy-Buster Posey-Hunter Pence trio of righties, and it should make life just a tad more difficult for opposing managers when they turn to their bullpens. "It gives us a little bit more balance," Bochy said.
--- Mike Leake threw a bullpen session today, breaking it up into two simulated innings. He remains on track to return next week.
