Giants notebook: Ross gives S.F. a boost with his play in right field

Alex Pavlovic
Mercury News

Ross gives Giants a boost with his play in right field

The Giants' early-season defense in right field has been the topic of much discussion, and even inspired an Aubrey Huff-shaped tape outline. But Cody Ross showed Saturday that any concerns might be a thing of the past.

When Atlanta's Eric Hinske tried to take second on a two-out hit into the right-field corner, Ross played the carom perfectly and threw out Hinske with a no-hop rocket to the second-base bag.

"The more and more you get out there, the more comfortable you get," said Ross, who was playing just his third game after coming off the disabled list. "This is one of the toughest outfields in all of baseball, but you try to play it the best you can."

Ross also picked up his first two hits and first RBI of the season.

Buster Posey was held out of the starting lineup for just the second time this season. "It was just time to get him a day," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Posey started a day game after a night game earlier in the week, against Colorado, and Bochy said the Giants "didn't want to do that again within a couple of days."

The Braves tested Posey's backup, Eli Whiteside, right away, attempting a steal after Martin Prado led off the game with a walk. Whiteside nailed Prado with a perfect throw to second. "I hadn't been out there in a while, and they know that," Whiteside said with a smile. "But I had fun."

When the Giants head to Pittsburgh this week for the beginning of a 10-game trip, injured veterans Andres Torres and Santiago Casilla won't be joining them.

Torres (left Achilles strain) and Casilla (inflamed right elbow) instead will go to the Giants' facility in Arizona to continue rehabbing and play in extended-spring-training games.

Bochy reiterated that Torres is a "ways away" from returning and said it was a "long shot" that he would rejoin the club during the trip. Torres, who is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, will need to get at-bats in a minor league game before returning.

Ryan Vogelsong hasn't given up a run since being called up to replace Barry Zito (right midfoot sprain), and Bochy said he remains on schedule to get a start during the Giants' upcoming series in Pittsburgh.

Box Score