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Panik sits out with recurrence of back stiffness

ARLINGTON -- Lower back stiffness sidelined Giants second baseman Joe Panik on Sunday, marking the second time in four games that this malady forced him from the lineup.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Panik's discomfort returned during Saturday night's 9-7, 11-inning Interleague triumph over the Texas Rangers. Bochy approached Panik, who collected two hits, about leaving the game. But, said Bochy, "he gutted it out and said that he was good enough to keep going."

Panik sat out San Francisco's series finale against Milwaukee last Wednesday, which preceded a scheduled off-day. The Giants had hoped that back-to-back days off would help Panik recover. That plan worked for 20 innings.

Panik's stoicism didn't surprise Bochy.

"He's a tough kid from New York and did not want to be out," Bochy said. "He might need more than a day, but we'll see."

Ehire Adrianza replaced Panik in San Francisco's lineup. Panik, a 2015 All-Star, took a .309 batting average into Sunday's finale against Texas.

Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Haft-Baked Ideas, follow him on Twitter at @sfgiantsbeat and listen to his podcast.
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