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One controversial San Francisco player might sit out Saturday, but the Giants may introduce a new one to their lineup.
With slugger
Barry Bonds
nursing an injured left leg,
Shea Hillenbrand
could make his San Francisco debut as the streaking Giants continue their four-game series Saturday with the
San Diego Padres
at AT&T Park.
Bonds left Friday's 8-2 win over the Padres in the third inning after having difficulty running to first on a leadoff single.
He was hit by a pitch in the first inning, but initially tried to stay in the game.
The team said that Bonds, who hit his 722nd career home run Thursday to move within 33 of
Hank Aaron
's all-time record, is day-to-day.
In a statement released on his Web site Thursday, Bonds expressed relief that a federal grand jury considering possible perjury
and tax-evasion charges against him expired without an indictment. Bonds, who also turns 42 on Monday, said before Friday's
game that his right knee - which required three operations last season - is fine.
''I feel great,'' said Bonds, who had surgery on his left knee in October 2004. ''My knee feels 100 percent. I'm not lifting
heavy like I used to. My body is just sore because I'm older.''
The Giants acquired Hillenbrand, along with reliever
Vinnie Chulk
, from the
Toronto Blue Jays
following Friday's win for reliever
Jeremy Accardo
. Hillenbrand was designated for assignment Wednesday after he wrote on the clubhouse bulletin board that the ''ship was sinking,''
prompting
Blue Jays
manager
John Gibbons
to challenge him to a fight.
Hillenbrand, who is hitting .301 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBIs, also expressed frustration with Toronto's front office
after spending four days away from the team to complete the process of adopting a child with his wife.
''We started talking and negotiating with these guys before the mishap,'' Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. ''I feel
there are two sides to the story. It will be left for people to decide what happened in Toronto.''
Hillenbrand, who will likely play first base, and Chulk are both expected to be available Saturday.
The Giants (50-47) have won a season-high four straight games and moved a half-game behind the NL West-leading Padres with
Friday's victory. San Francisco has not won five straight since Sept. 16-21 last season.
The Padres (50-46) have dropped three straight and six of eight.
Khalil Greene
hit a ninth-inning homer to end a shutout bid by Giants starter
Matt Cain
.
Catcher
Mike Piazza
recorded his 2,000th career hit with a second-inning double.
Woody Williams
(4-1, 3.38 ERA) will take the mound Saturday for San Diego. He allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings of San Diego's
8-6 win Monday over the
Philadelphia Phillies
, but did not receive a decision.
The right-hander, who turns 40 next month, missed seven weeks with a muscle tear in his left calf and is 1-0 with a 3.63 ERA
in three starts since returning. He has won his last three decisions and has not lost since a 3-2 defeat April 26 to Arizona.
Williams is 7-5 with a 4.21 ERA in 15 career appearances, including 14 starts, against the Giants. He has made two starts
and one relief appearance against San Francisco this season, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA.
Williams gave up one run and eight hits in six innings in the Padres' 10-inning, 4-1 win over the Giants on July 1 in his
first start back from the DL.
San Francisco will counter with
Jason Schmidt
(6-6, 3.06), who lost his third straight start and fourth straight decision Monday, allowing a season-high eight runs - six
earned - and a season-worst 10 hits in six innings of a 10-1 defeat to the
Milwaukee Brewers
.
The All-Star right-hander has not won since June 6, when he matched a franchise record with 16 strikeouts in a victory over
Florida, but he has allowed two earned runs or less in four outings during his seven-start winless streak.
Schmidt is 10-9 with a 4.77 ERA in 25 career starts against the Padres. He gave up four runs and two homers in seven innings
of a 6-1 loss to San Diego on April 3.
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