Romo fine after long break despite illness

SAN FRANCISCO -- If it felt like it was a long time since Sergio Romo took the mound, it was.

The Giants closer made just two appearances in the first nine contests of the year and none since April 2 entering Thursday's contest against the D-backs, but manager Bruce Bochy planned to get Romo work against Arizona.

"We talked about it last night, but he's fine," Bochy said before Thursday's game. "He does his throwing and he'll be in there tonight. We're getting to a point where he'll have to get out there. I don't mind him getting some breaks like this. I know it's early, but during the course of the season, all of them I'd like to give them a four-, five-, six-day break. I think it's good for them."

As expected, Romo entered the game Thursday in the ninth inning. With the score tied at 5, the closer allowed a fly ball that resulted in a two-base error on a misplay by center fielder Angel Pagan, but Romo needed just eight pitches to get through the scoreless inning.

He appeared to be in pain upon returning to the Giants dugout, but Bochy said it was just a stomach bug that's been bothering him lately.

"Stomach virus. His stomach was cramping up on him," Bochy said. "Felt it warming up. Gave us a good inning, but that's what he was feeling out there."

In 2013, Romo completed his first full season as San Francisco's closer, completing 38 saves while posting a 2.54 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings. He was also rested for at least a week on two separate occasions during the year, besides the All-Star break, so long breaks aren't a complete unknown for Romo.

With his closer in need of work, Bochy said he has no reservations about using Romo in non-save situations. And even though Romo has had knee and elbow injuries in the past, Bochy said that's not the impetus behind this decision to rest him.

"Sure, he has [had issues], but he's healthy," Bochy said. "He's fine, he's good to go. Just the way the games have gone. There's going to be stretches when I call on him a lot. He's going to go three, possibly even four in a row."