Arias available to pinch-hit after testing hamstring

CINCINNATI -- Giants infielder Joaquin Arias tested his strained left hamstring by running Tuesday and edged closer to being able to play fully.

"He's doing a lot better," manager Bruce Bochy said of Arias, who injured himself while running the bases in Los Angeles on June 24 and hasn't played since.

Arias demonstrated his improved mobility by running "curves" along the back edge of the infield's dirt portion at Great American Ball Park.

Bochy said for the second day in a row that Arias would be eligible to pinch-hit. The Giants have missed the utility man, who has started 22 games and appeared in 18 contests as a defensive substitute. The latter figure ranks second in the National League.