Giants sticking with Crawford batting seventh

SAN FRANCISCO -- The question arises whenever Brandon Crawford thrives offensively: Would the Giants consider elevating him in the batting order?

Manager Bruce Bochy's usual answer is the same one he delivered Tuesday -- no.

"I've got some pretty good guys up there right now," said Bochy, whose club ranked third in the National League in scoring entering the series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers. "I like him where he is now, behind [Michael] Morse."

Crawford entered Tuesday batting .308 overall, including .333 (9-for-27) from the seventh spot in the order, where he's often preceded immediately by Morse.

But San Francisco's No. 2 hitters have combined to bat .226 in the team's first 13 games. Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt have shared that berth, hitting .200 (4-for-20) and .267 (8-for-30), respectively. Belt also has contributed three homers from the No. 2 spot, which was earmarked for second baseman Marco Scutaro until a bad back sidelined him.