Second baseman Marco Scutaro could be back with the Giants soon. (Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)
OAKLAND, Calif. — A little help could soon be on the way for the struggling Giants.
Veteran second baseman Marco Scutaro moved his rehabilitation assignment Monday from the rookie-level Arizona League to Triple-A Fresno, and went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in a 6-4 loss to Sacramento.
Scutaro has been on the disabled list the entire season with back inflammation, but the Giants might not have to wait much longer before he’s healthy enough to be activated.
“It’s going well,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said before his team’s 5-0 loss Monday night against Oakland. “He’s feeling really well right now. He’s excited about being in Fresno, and he’s already talked about joining us soon. He said, ‘I think I’m ready,’ but he needs playing time.
“I’ve seen guys that go down there and they feel pretty good. They play a game or two and they think they’re ready, but he needs some at-bats. He’s missed so much time. He’s got to play nine innings. He hasn’t done that yet. He feels he can do that. My hope is the next couple days we’ll get him stretched out and we’ll have a better idea of really where he is.”
Scutaro hit .362 with 41 RBIs in 44 games for the Giants in 2012 after being traded by Colorado to San Francisco. Last year he hit .297 with 31 RBIs and made the National League All-Star Team.
Rookie Joe Panik started at second base Monday night against the Giants. He’s batting .231 with four RBIs in 13 games. For much of the season, Brandon Hicks has started at second. He’s batting .164 with eight home runs in 70 games.
