Giants could have Sergio Romo back next week
Romo’s long absence because right-handers Cory Gearrin and Hunter Strickland have covered the loss fairly well.
The Giants are 22-2 when leading after six innings and 22-3 when ahead after seven.
[...] manager Bruce Bochy, pitching coach Dave Righetti and bullpen coach Mark Gardner can plan for Romo’s return.
The right-hander made the first of five planned rehab appearances for Triple-A Sacramento on Monday — allowing a homer but striking out three in one inning — with an eye toward rejoining the Giants in Atlanta next week.
Bochy plans to return Romo to his eighth-inning role.
“It’s going to strengthen our bullpen when we’ve got Gearrin and Strickland in the sixth and seventh innings to bridge us to Romo and (Santiago) Casilla,” Bochy said.
With that said, I’ve got another experienced late-inning guy who can help us everywhere.
Right fielder Hunter Pence underwent an MRI exam that revealed a mild right-hamstring strain.
Pence said he first felt the hamstring tug while sliding into the plate in the final game at Arizona on May 15 and again running up the line in San Diego two days later.
By Saturday, it affected his swing so much he thought he was hurting the team.
To honor the late Jim Davenport, the Giants will have his son, Gary, join Gene Clines to represent the team at the June 9 amateur draft.
Henry Schulman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
Madison Bumgarner on Sunday became the fourth Giants pitcher since 1920, and first since Russ Ortiz in 2000, to drive in the run in a 1-0 win.
Ortiz singled home a run against the Brewers.