San Francisco sends Burriss down, brings up Downs

Giants send down Burriss

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Giants sent down struggling second baseman Emmanuel Burriss on Tuesday in an effort to get him back on track offensively.

Matt Downs was called up from Triple-A Fresno on Tuesday to fill the roster spot after Burriss was optioned to Fresno, and the Giants designated catcher Steve Holm for assignment to clear room on the 40-man roster for Downs. The 25-year-old Downs was in the starting lineup playing second base and batting eighth for his major league debut. He will be the everyday second baseman for now.

“He plays the game the way you want your players to play,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “He has some pop in his bat. He’s been playing well at second. We just felt we needed a little more offense here right now.”

The switch-hitting Burriss, 24, was batting .238 with no home runs and 13 RBIs in 61 games for the Giants, but his defense has been steady. Yet Bochy said Burriss’ trouble at the plate had begun to affect his play at second. Burriss was in an 0-for-27 funk since his last hit June 4 and the Giants hinted they would like to see him become more of a leadoff hitter, working to use the whole field and bunt more consistently.

“This is a little hiccup in his career,” Bochy said. “He’ll be back. We feel now is the time Manny needs to go down and work on some things. It’s fair to say he’s had his struggles.”

Downs, a non-roster invitee to spring training who has also played in the outfield, hit .288 with six homers and 38 RBIs in 54 games for Fresno. He provides the Giants with some depth in the infield while Juan Uribe nurses an injured hamstring. Bochy said Uribe likely will be back in the lineup sometime during the team’s weekend series against the Texas Rangers.

Downs met with Bochy upon arriving at the ballpark.

“He welcomed me and told me to keep doing what I’m doing — do what got me here,” Downs said. “In spring training I tried to open some eyes. I guess somebody likes me a little bit.”