Duffy gets start at second base vs. righty pitcher

NEW YORK -- Intrigued by rookie Matt Duffy's potential, Giants manager Bruce Bochy abandoned his plans to play the right-handed batter only against left-handed pitchers and started him at second base Sunday against Mets righty Bartolo Colon.

Duffy went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in his Major League debut Friday night after the Giants purchased his contract from Double-A Richmond, where he was batting .332 with a .398 on-base percentage. That's enough to prompt Bochy to play Duffy at least semi-regularly.

"I'm going to try to keep him going," Bochy said, amending his Saturday remark about Duffy platooning at second with left-handed-batting Joe Panik.

Bochy added that Duffy -- the Giants' No. 18 overall prospect -- occasionally will fill in at shortstop and third base to rest Brandon Crawford and Pablo Sandoval, respectively.

"He had a terrific year in a tough league to hit. We'll try to keep him sharp," Bochy said of Duffy, 23.

Second base has been the Giants' most unstable position this season. Duffy became the seventh player to start there, joining Panik, Brandon Hicks, Ehire Adrianza, Joaquin Arias, Dan Uggla and Marco Scutaro. By comparison, the Giants have started six first basemen, four left fielders, four center fielders, three shortstops, three catchers, two third basemen and one right fielder.