PHOENIX -- Giants third baseman Evan Longoria experienced a recurrence of the left ankle injury that nagged him during Spring Training, forcing him to be scratched from the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs won, 1-0.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said that he expected Longoria to miss perhaps the next two games.
Pablo Sandoval replaced Longoria, both at third base and in the fifth spot in the batting order. The switch-hitting Sandoval entered the game batting .250 overall (4-for-16), but only .143 (1-for-7) against lefties. He will face a southpaw in D-backs Tuesday night starter Patrick Corbin.
Longoria, who rested his ankle during the second week of Spring Training, sustained what Bochy called a "tweak," as the three-time All-Star stood in the batter's box, tracking Derek Holland's pitches during a throwing session between starts.
Longoria entered Tuesday batting .204 (11-for-54), while starting 14 of San Francisco's first 15 games at third base. However, he had surged lately, batting .368 (7-for-19) with three doubles and a home run during the past five games.