Bowker may sit against lefties; Bochy backs Rowand

Tuesday, April 6

HOUSTON — John Bowker won the competition to be San Francisco’s Opening Day right fielder. That doesn’t mean he’ll be the everyday right fielder.

With left-hander Wandy Rodriguez starting Tuesday for Houston, Giants manager Bruce Bochy used switch-hitting Andres Torres in right field and sat the left-handed-batting Bowker, who contributed an RBI single to Monday night’s season-opening triumph.

Bochy insisted that it was too early to define this maneuvering as a platoon. But he did say, “Torres did such a great job against left-handers last year (.338) that early on he’s going to get some playing time against them.”

Torres went 0-for-3 with a walk. Meanwhile, Bowker grounded a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning off right-hander Matt Lindstrom.

Also, don’t expect Aaron Rowand to be rested in Wednesday’s series finale, just because he’s 0-for-10.

“It’s two games. It happens,” Bochy said. Reminding interrogators of Rowand’s excellent Cactus League hitting, Bochy added, “He just needs a hit to get going. But I don’t think he needs a day [off].”

– Chris Haft