SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants welcomed back third baseman Evan Longoria into the lineup Thursday. He had been sidelined since June 14 with a fractured left hand. Longoria's return, however, was countered by the loss of first baseman Brandon Belt.
Belt was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday with a hyperextended right knee. He sustained the injury legging out an infield single in the seventh inning Wednesday and immediately exited the game.
"[Belt] had an MRI and it showed a bone bruise," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's probably going to be five days before he can start doing some activities, so we decided to put him on the disabled list."
The Giants don't expect to be without Belt for long.
"It's kind of hard to get short when [Belt] probably won't be playing for around 10 days," Bochy said of the decision to place the first baseman on the disabled list. "It makes it easier with the shorter DL stint."
Bochy will turn to rookie Austin Slater, Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey to fill the void at first.
"[Slater] played quite a bit of first down there at [Triple-A] Sacramento and did a pretty good job," Bochy said. "So I'm going to take a look at it. At the same time, we're looking at Buster playing there against lefties."
Stratton back with Giants
The Giants recalled right-hander Chris Stratton on Thursday and optioned infielder Kelby Tomlinson to Sacramento. Stratton has started 18 games for the Giants in 2018, compiling an 8-6 record with a 4.93 ERA and 1.44 WHIP.
In his most recent Minor League start Friday, Stratton twirled six innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out 10 batters. Bochy liked what he saw from Stratton since the right-hander was optioned July 7.
"Strat will assume a long-man role and also help us late in the game if needed there," Bochy said. "We'll kind of move him around similar to how we're using Ty Blach. It gives us a little more coverage. It makes it a little bit easier to use Ty if needed for an inning or so."
Panik nearing return
Joe Panik embarked on a rehab assignment in Sacramento on Thursday. The second baseman has been sidelined since July 6 with a left groin strain.
"He's going to go five, seven and nine [innings]," Bochy said. "And when Sacramento goes on the road -- they're going to Memphis -- he'll probably spend a couple more days rehabbing for [Class A Advanced] San Jose."