Giants designate Runzler, Tanaka for assignment

SAN DIEGO -- To clear room on the 40-man roster for a pair of September callups, the Giants designated lefty reliever Dan Runzler and outfielder Kensuke Tanaka for assignment.

Heath Hembree and Johnny Monell were among the eight players joining the Giants for Tuesday night's game in San Diego. They were each placed on the 40-man roster, leaving Runzler and Tanaka as the odd men out.

Runzler, a ninth-round selection for the Giants in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, had his best season in 2009, when he rose through every Minor League classification. He then pitched in 11 games for the big league club that September, allowing just one run in 8 2/3 innings.

He struggled from then on, however, posting a 5.68 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP this season with Triple-A Fresno.

"He did lose some command, which happens," manager Bruce Bochy said. "Sometimes it can be a mental issue, more so than physical. I think that's more the case with Runz. He's got great stuff, and you never know -- something could click there, where he gets back to being the pitcher he was when we called him up."

Tanaka, meanwhile, played in 15 games this season with the big league club and had eight singles in 30 at-bats. The 32-year-old, who had transitioned from second base to left field, hit .329 with Fresno this season. He had previously spent 13 seasons in the Japanese League with the Nippon Ham Fighters.