SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants outfielder Angel Pagan took another step in his recovery from a left hamstring strain when he ran the bases prior to Wednesday's game against the Boston Red Sox.
That's an encouraging sign for a San Francisco offense that is already without slugger Hunter Pence, who is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove a tendon in his right hamstring Thursday and will miss eight weeks.
Pagan is batting .275 with 13 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 35 games this season. He's batted ninth most of the season as part of manager Bruce Bochy's ongoing experiment with batting pitchers eighth and has done well in that role.
"He's doing well," Bochy said. "If all goes well, he could be fairly close to starting a rehab. It could be as early as this weekend. He's making nice progress."
The Giants also received positive news regarding 2013 All-Star reliever Sergio Romo. Romo, out since mid-April with a right flexor strain, played catch from up to 90 feet before the game and could throw off a mound this weekend.