NEW YORK -- Veteran outfielder Michael Tucker is only five hits shy of 1,000 for his career, and Giants manager Felipe Alou is trying to play Tucker as often as possible to help him reach that goal.

Tucker, expected to start in the second game of Sunday's doubleheader against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, has started only 22 games so far and is hitting .230 overall.

"It's hard as a player to see two games played and not [play] in one," said Alou. "He only needs a few hits for 1,000. I don't know if it's a goal, but in this game you never know."

Tucker, batting .271 vs. right-handed pitchers but 0-for-15 against lefties, has played part time in 45 of the club's 53 games.

"Tucker's a pinch-hitter who can come off the bench and get a base hit. I told him I wanted to give him a fair chance," said Alou.

With Barry Bonds out of action, supersub Pedro Feliz became the starting left fielder, while veteran Moises Alou is stalwart in right and rookie Jason Ellison emerged offensively and defensively playing in center for Marquis Grissom, now back after a disabled-list stint.

"With Ellison hitting [.323], what can I do?" said Felipe Alou.

Tucker has been strong offensively lately, batting .333 (5-for-15) in his last six games, including three starts, which snapped a .143 spell in his previous 24 games.

In his last pinch-hit role, the veteran had a single against the Phillies on June 1.

When the Giants play at Minnesota and Detroit starting June 14 in Interleague Play, Tucker is expected to see duty as a designated hitter.

Speaking of goals ...: Giants bullpen coach Mark Gardner finished his pitching career with 99 victories, and he's been asked jokingly if he wouldn't mind returning to active duty just to collect victory No. 100.

"He'd probably want to pitch for a team that'll score runs," replied Alou, whose Giants rank 12th in National League run-scoring despite batting .272 as a team, tied for second with three other teams entering Sunday play.

Thompson now coach: Former Giants second baseman Robby Thompson, one of the Class of 1986's "You Gotta Like These Kids," has been named an infield coach and interim bench coach for the Cleveland Indians.

Former coach Buddy Bell has been hired to manage the Kansas City Royals, whom San Francisco plays in a three-game series starting Tuesday night at SBC Park.

Thompson, 43, played 11 years with the Giants and was a two-time All-Star. He's been in the Indians' organization since 2002 after serving as a Giants coach for two years.

Decker manager: Ex-Giants catcher Steve Decker (1990-92 and '96) will make his managerial debut June 21 with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the short-season Class A Northwest League. He spent four seasons in an apprenticeship in the Giants organization.

On deck: Left-hander Kirk Rueter (2-3, 4.27) makes the 330th start of his long career against the Royals in Interleague Play at SBC Park on Tuesday night. Rueter has never faced the Royals during the regular season. He's done well his last seven games, going 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA.