Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
SAN DIEGO — The Giants have not had the injury scare that the Padres did, having lost Fernando Tatis Jr. to the injured list, but the first two games have been an adventure for San Francisco.
After Mike Yastrzemski was pulled from Monday’s starting lineup because of hand soreness (only to pinch-hit and knock the go-ahead homer), Tommy La Stella was scratched from the lineup a night later.
The Giants cited upper back tightness for La Stella, who has just five plate appearances through the first four games — but that’s more a result of the Giants facing lefties three of the four games.
The 32-year-old had been set to make his second start of the season, this one against San Diego righty Yu Darvish, but Wilmer Flores instead will play second base.
The full lineup for Aaron Sanchez’s Giants debut:
1. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
2. Alex Dickerson, LF
3. Wilmer Flores, 2B
4. Brandon Belt, 1B
5. Evan Longoria, 3B
6. Buster Posey, C
7. Brandon Crawford, SS
8. Austin Slater, CF
9. Aaron Sanchez, P
Yastrzemski, meanwhile was feeling “a little bit better,” Gabe Kapler said before the game. His knuckle had swelled — the same one that was drilled in the spring training finale — and he was comfortable taking an at-bat Monday but not playing the field.
Kapler had said he would check in with Yastrzemski again, but it seems as if he’s fine.
Kapler said it’s a normal day off for Donovan Solano against a tough righty and after the second baseman had played every game so far. The Giants had to start either Evan Longoria or Solano as a hot righty bat, and Longoria’s two-way play won out.
Solano stole his first base in seven years on Monday. While he’s not a speed demon, he’s also not dead weight on the bases. Kapler said the coaching staff had identified him as a steals threat during camp.
“He’s not a guy that’s going to go out and steal 25 or 30 bags,” Kapler said over Zoom, “but a guy that could be opportunistic and steal a base for us once in a while. He’s not lightning fast, but he has a pretty decent first step.”
Kapler on new outfielder and all-time name Skye Bolt, who was picked up from the A’s and sent to the Giants’ alternate site on Monday:
“Switch-hitter, plays all three outfield positions, plus runner,” the manager said. “Obviously with Jaylin [Davis] down with his knee issue [and out 4-6 weeks], it’s nice to have a little bit of depth. So the additional outfield support is good, and he put up some nice numbers in the minor leagues.”