SAN FRANCISCO — Ramiro Peña would like to forget the seventh inning last night, and thankfully he almost can. Pinch-hitter Ivan De Jesus sharply grounded a ball to Peña at third base that kicked off the heel of his glove and hit him directly in the cup.
“I just put the glove down, and I don’t know,” Peña said. “I don’t know what happened after that.”
He was in better spirits Wednesday morning in the Giants clubhouse, but was scratched from the lineup after trying to take ground balls. Peña spent a few moments Tuesday collecting himself on the field with trainer Dave Groeschner, who told Peña to take his time. Meanwhile, his fellow infielders hid smiles behind their gloves while telling Peña to start jumping up and down. He refused initially, but didn’t have a choice when speedster Billy Hamilton came up next threatened to bunt against the wounded third baseman.
After coming in the dugout at the end of the inning, Peña felt woozy and had to be taken out. It wasn’t his worst baseball injury between the legs. He said previously he’s been sent to the hospital with a similar ordeal.
“That thing was smoked when it hit him,” Bruce Bochy said. “I could hear it. I went down too.”
The Giants manager addressed his other injured player, starting off on a positive note. He said the team is “very encouraged” by Hunter Pence’s progress at the plate as he continued his tear Tuesday night with a home run for Triple-A Sacramento. The trainers still think he needs time, Bochy said, and Pence’s legs will determine when he returns to the majors.
Joe Panik (concussion) felt good after playing five innings on Tuesday in Triple-A, and is slated to play seven tonight for the Rivercats. Cory Gearrin (right shoulder strain) threw a bullpen Wednesday and will start his rehab assignment in two or three days.
Denard Span was given the day off after catching “the crud” in New York, Bochy said.
Giants lineup vs. Dan Straily (5-6, 4.01 ERA)
CF – Gregor Blanco (L) (0-for-5)
LF – Angel Pagan (S) (Never faced Straily)
RF – Mac Williamson (1-for-1)
C – Buster Posey (0-for-3)
SS – Brandon Crawford (L) (1-for-5)
1B – Brandon Belt (L) (1-for-4, HR)
3B – Conor Gillaspie (L) (1-for-8, HR)
2B – Grant Green (1-for-3)
LHP – Madison Bumgarner (Never faced Straily)
Reds lineup vs. Madison Bumgarner (10-5, 2.14 ERA)
CF – Bily Hamilton (S) (4-for-10, HR)
SS – Zack Cozart (3-for-17, HR, 5 SO)
1B – Joey Votto (L) (7-for-17)
RF – Jay Bruce (L) (2-for-17, 4 SO)
LF – Adam Duvall (Never faced Bumgarner)
2B – Brandon Phillips (5-for-19)
3B – Eugenio Suarez (1-for-3, HR)
C – Tucker Barnhart (S) (Never faced Bumgarner)
RHP – Dan Straily (Never faced Bumgarner)