SAN FRANCISCO -- Hunter Pence had three hits last night, including the second homer of his rehab assignment. He's 8-for-16 for the River Cats, and in addition to the two homers, he has two doubles.
There is no rush, however, to get him back in the big league lineup.
"No, right now, talking to the trainers, they think he needs some time," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That could change in the next couple days as you've seen, but right now with how he's running and how he's feeling, they just think he needs a little more time."
[RELATED: Pence homers, Panik hitless in rehab assignment game]
After Pence felt something in his hamstring during his first rehab game the Giants promised to be even more cautious than they have been in the past. They want Pence to get about 30 rehab at-bats, and they're sticking to that, even with the lineup in need of some help. For now he'll stick with Triple-A, but Bochy twice called the at-bats Pence had last night "very encouraging."
"As far as timing at the plate, that's very encouraging, and that's usually what comes a little later," Bochy said. "Now it's just his legs. We just have to get him back in the kind of shape we can where we can play him every day."
The best guess here is that Pence gets on the flight to Philadelphia on Monday and returns Tuesday against the team that traded him here.
--- Joe Panik played last night and will play seven more innings today, and then nine tomorrow. Bochy said he "felt really good." There's still a chance that Panik returns this weekend.
--- Just a day off for Denard Span, who got sick in New York and has been dragging a bit.
--- Cory Gearrin threw today and is two or three days away from starting his own rehab assignment, Bochy said.
--- Kruk and Kuip are doing a Q&A during the game. Here's the link to ask questions.
--- Ramiro Peña was a late scratch because of discomfort in a sensitive area. You saw what happened on that scorched liner to third. Send him your best.
--- A couple people asked on Saturday about Johnny Cueto wearing fresh white spikes. Turns out that was a Nike thing since Ken Griffey Jr. was going into the Hall of Fame. All of Nike's big stars were sent the all-whites, and Brandon Crawford wore them, too.
