News
Rowand questionable with bruised arm
San Francisco (50-42) at Atlanta (47-46), 4 p.m. PT
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
07/21/09 12:06 AM ET
ATLANTA -- The task of filling out the lineup card suddenly became more complicated for manager Bruce Bochy on Monday, when center fielder Aaron Rowand sustained a bruised right forearm. Rowand, whose playing status is day-to-day, was hit on the arm by a pitch from Atlanta's Tommy Hanson in the first inning. Rowand remained in the game, but his arm stiffened as the game progressed. He could swing a bat but, by the eighth inning, struggled to throw and left the game. Rowand refused to guess how much recovery time he might need. He optimistically suggested that treatment and ice applications might enable him to take his usual spot in the lineup Tuesday. "Hopefully the knot that's in my forearm goes away," he said. Rowand's condition also might complicate the Giants' thinking as they decide who to cut when right-hander Ryan Sadowski officially rejoins the club to start Tuesday against Atlanta. They could be reluctant to drop a position player -- specifically, an outfielder -- if Rowand's health remains iffy. But with 16 games left in a stretch of 20 in a row without a scheduled off-day, maintaining a full contingent of pitchers is a must. Rowand has gone hitless in his last 20 at-bats, dropping his batting average from .293 to .275 and prompting the notion that he could be moved out of the leadoff spot. Initially, he surged when moved to the top of the order on May 20. Even including his current slump, Rowand is batting .299 (63-for-211) in his last 54 games. And he contributed a key seventh-inning sacrifice fly that tied the score Monday night. Before the game, Bochy maintained his faith in Rowand, who has occupied the leadoff spot in a team-high 49 games. "I'm not going to tweak the lineup yet," Bochy said. The Giants will cross their fingers for a speedy recovery by Rowand. He owns a .500 career batting average (10-for-20) against Derek Lowe, Atlanta's scheduled starter Tuesday. Other Giants veterans have thrived against Lowe, including Rich Aurilia (.375, 6-for-16), Edgar Renteria (.364, 4-for-11), Bengie Molina (.333, 8-for-24) and Randy Winn (.288, 17-for-59). Pitching matchupSF: RHP Ryan Sadowski (2-1, 1.00 ERA)
Not needing a fifth starter to end the season's first half, San Francisco optioned the right-hander to the Minor Leagues on July 9. Trying to stay sharp and on his turn during the All-Star break, he allowed one run on five hits over six innings for Class A San Jose on July 13. Sadowski opened his big league career with two wins, pitching six and seven shutout innings. He then allowed three runs (two earned) in five innings against the Florida Marlins on July 8, picking up his first loss. ATL: RHP Derek Lowe (8-7, 4.40 ERA)
Lowe fell victim to one rough inning against the Mets, surrendering three runs in the fourth and earning a no-decision. Other than that inning, Lowe was strong and allowed just five total hits on the day. The Braves still need him to get further into games as he didn't pitch at least seven innings for the first time since June 7 against the Pirates. Lowe is 4-5 against the Giants in his career with a 3.21 ERA. In four outings against the Giants last season, his only decision was a July 4 loss. Tidbits
Though it's a certainty that Sadowski will rejoin the Giants to start Tuesday, the club won't announce its corresponding roster move until before that game. ... Winn has hit safely in 16 of his last 19 games, amassing multiple hits in nine of them. But Winn enters Tuesday's game with no home runs in 277 at-bats, his longest powerless streak since he joined the Giants in 2005. According to Bill Arnold of Sports Features Group, Winn endured his longest homerless stretch in 1999 with Tampa Bay, a 300-at-bat streak lasting virtually the entire season. ... Molina turned 35 Monday. Tickets
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• Wednesday: Giants (Tim Lincecum, 10-2, 2.27) at Braves (Jair Jurrjens, 8-7, 2.77), 4:00 p.m. PT
• Thursday: Giants (Barry Zito, 5-10, 4.89) at Braves (Kenshin Kawakami, 5-7, 4.15), 10:00 a.m. PT
• Friday: Giants (Matt Cain, 11-2, 2.32) at Rockies (TBD), 6:10 p.m. PT
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
