DENVER -- Giants catcher Buster Posey was back in the lineup for Thursday's 11-6 loss the Rockies after missing the first two games of the series recovering from a foul tip he took off his right instep. The tip came off the bat of Chase Utley during Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
"Buster came out early and tested it," manager Bruce Bochy said before Thursday's game. "He wants to go, so he's in there right now. We'll keep an eye on him."
Trevor Brown took Posey's place behind the plate in the first two games at Coors Field, going 4-for-8 with a double, two home runs, and five RBIs.
Posey entered Thursday batting .391 (67-for-169) with nine homers and 34 RBIs in 46 career games at Coors Field.
As Posey returned, Joe Panik was out of the lineup on Thursday. Panik made a diving attempt at Charlie Blackmon's bloop single in the second inning of Wednesday's game. Panik said he had no issues physically, but Bochy cited the play as the determining factor to sit Panik.
"He banged his hip pretty good diving for a ball, so he's off today," Bochy said, confirming that he fully expects Panik to be back in the lineup on Friday.
Panik is hitting .235 (8-for-34) through his first nine games of the season.
Infielder Kelby Tomlinson made his second start of the season on Thursday at second base.