Giants Activate Hunter Pence Off DL, Broken Arm Healed
CINCINNATI (AP) - The Giants activated right fielder Hunter Pence off the disabled list Saturday, giving the defending World Series champions a big boost to their struggling offense.
Pence was hit by a pitch during spring training and broke the left forearm just above the wrist. He felt good during a one-week rehab assignment in the minors, prompting the Giants to fly him in for the rest of their series against the Cincinnati Reds.
"My timing is good," Pence said. "I was seeing the ball great. I feel extremely strong and extremely fast, and the wrist feels healthy."
San Francisco has stranded 279 runners, the most in the majors, and is batting only .233 with runners in scoring position. Pence was in the starting lineup for a game Saturday night, batting sixth.
"We're looking forward to it," left-hander Madison Bumgarner said, after beating the Reds on Friday night. "We've missed him, not just as a player but his presence in the dugout and on the field."
The Giants also have missed Matt Cain and Jake Peavy, who went on the disabled list last month. They lost eight in a row in April to fall to 3-9, but evened their record at 18-18 on Friday night with a 10-2 win over the Reds. The 10 runs were a season high.
"They've been playing some really good baseball," Pence said. "They had one stretch - you hit those from time to time - and they bounced out of it and answered. To be 18-18 right now shows how good of baseball they've been playing and how much they've been fighting.
"We have an incredible unit here, so I'm excited to be joining that unit and being part of it."
The Giants optioned catcher Hector Sanchez to Triple-A Sacramento. Sanchez batted .194 in 18 games with one RBI.
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Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.