Bochy has faith in McGehee's track record

DENVER -- The Giants were up against double trouble in the series opener in Colorado on Friday night. The Rockies had a relentless doubles attack, knocking seven two-baggers among their 15 hits for the night. And the Colorado defense turned three double plays against San Francisco -- a season high for the Giants.

The double play has been something of a nemesis for the Giants this season, and they entered play Saturday tied with the Padres for the lead in the National League with 18 GIDPs. It has not gone without notice that Casey McGehee had hit into a most-in-the-Majors seven himself, in just 46 at-bats.

"I got to get him to back off a little bit," manager Bruce Bochy said of the slumping McGehee. "Less is more right now. He's just trying so hard. He's taking it really hard. But it's so early. We got to get him going. He knocked in 80 runs or something last year. He can hit, he's going to hit. He's got to relax here."

McGehee was the NL's Comeback Player of the Year Award winner in 2014, hitting .287 with 76 RBIs for Miami after a season in Japan in 2013 and a 2012 campaign in which he hit a combined .217 (69-for-318) with the Pirates and Yankees.

Friday night he admitted his frustrations, and Saturday night found him back in the lineup as a patient Bochy gives him time to work through his slump.

"This guy's a good player, a good hitter," Bochy said. "We all go through our tough times. I go back to last year. If you remember [Hunter Pence] -- April was probably the toughest month that he's had, and he came out of it, and [McGehee] will come out of it."

McGehee's current slump dates back to a 1-for-9 stretch before missing four games with a left knee strain from April 12-15. He was hitting .238 at the time of the injury and entered play Saturday hitting .163.

"He says he's fine," Bochy said, regarding whether the knee was still bothering him. "I don't know. I'm going to talk to him."

Though Bochy worries about McGehee letting his slump get in his head, he appreciates the intensity McGehee brings to the game.

"Scouts will tell you, one of the best ways to scout a player is how he handles an 0-for-4, or a rough day," Bochy said. "You want them to be upset, but at the same time, you don't want them to think that they've let everybody down and take it that far. Casey's going to be fine. He's been through enough. He's back out there. He needs to know, we're with him."