SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No one has to tell Giants manager Bruce Bochy how precarious things can get over the course of the season and how injuries can make a big impact.

Left-hander Noah Lowry was having problems with his command but couldn't quite pinpoint the reason until discovering he had something wrong in his left hand. He'll miss up to three weeks as a result of a procedure done in the Bay Area on Friday.

Enter Patrick Misch, a young left-hander who has extensive starting experience at the Minor League level, but who was converted into a relief pitcher at Triple-A Fresno last year.

Misch made a start for the Giants on Sunday, helping to replace Lowry.

"It was encouraging," Bochy said of Misch's 3 1/3 inning outing. "The one thing we have to establish is some depth in the rotation. We've already lost one. It's nice to have choices."

Lowry's regular day would have been Saturday. The Giants used Brad Hennessey and Jonathan Sanchez in split squad games, both of whom have also been starters in the past and have been turned into relievers.

"Everybody's thinking is how to help the team," Misch said after giving up a pair of runs on one hit. "Noah is a great pitcher and when he's back he'll be ready to go. Injuries happen and when the opportunity comes, you have to be ready. That's why we all come to work every day."

Bochy has already said Hennessey would remain in the bullpen, but considers Misch and Sanchez candidates for, at the least, spot starts.

Last season's jumbled rotation meant plenty of opportunities for guys like Tim Lincecum and Kevin Correia, who took starts when Russ Ortiz and Lowry got hurt and Matt Morris was traded.

Lincecum and Correia are now members of the rotation entering this season. Sanchez and Misch each made four starts last year and could be the next Lincecum-Correia combination.

Finding the barrell: Outfielder Clay Timpner isn't known as much of a home run hitter -- his career high is six last year at Triple-A Fresno -- but he'll take them any time, even in Spring Training.

The left-handed Timpner, a .301 hitter with the Grizzlies, hit a towering drive that sailed well beyond the right-field fence in the ninth inning of Sunday's game.

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"It felt good," he said. "They always feel good."

That he hit the homer against a left-hander (Chris George) was an even better sign.

"I try to keep myself closed more against lefties," Timpner said. "I just react to the pitch."

Timpner was hitless in his first nine at bats before connecting.

"I'm starting to feel better," he said. "It was a little rough at first but in the last couple of at bats I'm starting to come around.

Squeeze plays: Left-hander Noah Lowry made a brief appearance at Scottsdale Stadium as he returned from hand surgery in the Bay Area. He could be throwing off flat ground in 10 days, and could return to the mound in three weeks. He's scheduled to begin a workout program on Monday. ... Closer Brian Wilson threw a scoreless inning on Sunday that got Bochy's attention. "He's throwing well and he kept his concentration despite the score," Bochy said. ... Catcher Guillermo Rodriguez (right hip injury) is within a day or two of returning to action.

Up next:Left-hander Barry Zito (0-2, 22.09) makes his third start on Monday at 1:05 p.m. PT as he looks to lower his spring ERA against the Kansas City Royals in Surprise, Ariz. Zito has allowed nine runs on nine hits in his previous starts.