SEATTLE – Brian Giles was held out of yesterday's game because the Padres want to give his ailing right knee two days' rest. An MRI taken Wednesday showed a bone bruise on the knee.
Giles believes he injured the knee at Wrigley Field a month ago when he hit the brick wall trying to make a catch.
“It's progressively gotten a little worse,” said Giles. “Maybe two days off will help. Hopefully, it will feel better Tuesday.”
“The knee has bothered Brian more the last week or so,” said manager Bud Black. “It's more cumulative. We're hoping that two straight days off will help.”
Since his hitting streak (12-for-29) ended at six games on May 11, Giles has gone 3-for-27 to drop his average to .276 – its lowest point since April 17.
Black said his position players are still fairly fresh. “The schedule has been fairly favorable,” he said. “As the summer gets closer and the heat comes into play, you have to pay more attention to giving players breaks. The guys feel fresh right now and don't need days off.”
Hoffman hot
Since blowing back-to-back save opportunities on April 25 and 27, Trevor Hoffman has converted seven straight chances to run his career total to 493.
Over his last nine outings, Hoffman has allowed no runs on four hits and no walks – lowering his ERA from 7.04 to 3.24.
But yesterday he had to work out of a jam while protecting a one-run lead. Jose Guillen and Ben Broussard opened the Mariners' ninth with singles.
“As much as you think you are in despair, you're only one pitch away from getting out of it,” said Hoffman. “I was just telling someone else that the other day.
“Even with two runners on, one pitch can get you a triple play. You have to think positive in this business. But you do slow the process down.”
Hoffman didn't get a triple play on one pitch. But he got out of the situation quickly.
Adrian Beltre fouled out to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez after failing to get down a sacrifice bunt. Then Yuniesky Betancourt flied out to left.
That brought up second baseman Jose Lopez, who had driven in Seattle's run in the second. Hoffman struck him out on three pitches.
“I was lucky to get ahead of the kid,” said Hoffman. “I took a chance being aggressive early.”
Interleague lull
Although Black remains an overall backer of interleague play, he said “the novelty has worn off just a touch.”
Of course, before Black joined the Padres, his interleague rivalry weekend involved the L.A. Dodgers and Angels as the latter's pitching coach.
“It's a natural rivalry,” said Black. “There's a lot of hype, a lot of buildup, a lot of electricity. You can't duplicate those three matchups (also Yankees-Mets and Cubs-White Sox) in the other 11 matchups.”
Miscellany
Although this is a day off for the players, pitcher Chris Young will travel to Tijuana as part of the Padres' annual caravan to the city.
Bill Center: (619) 293-1851; bill.center@uniontrib.com
