SAN DIEGO (AP) -The San Diego Padres will be down to one Giles brother until the weekend.
Second baseman Marcus Giles, who’s hitting just .191 since May 7, was benched for three games starting with Wednesday night’s series finale against the New York Mets.
“I hope nobody’s expecting me to be happy about it, but it is what it is,” said Giles, the younger brother of right fielder Brian Giles.
“It might be time for Marcus to take a step back to take two forward,” manager Bud Black said. “He’s been pressing a little bit over the last number of weeks. I think it’s a good time to take a step back and work on a few things that will get him back to where we know he can play.”
Giles is hitting just .237, with four homers and 32 RBIs. His average has dropped 85 points since May 7.
“I hope it makes it better, but I’m sure there’s a chance it’ll make it worse,” Giles said about the time off. “Who knows? I’ve never really had three days off before.”
Geoff Blum started at second and batted eighth Wednesday night.
Marcus Giles opened the season as San Diego’s leadoff hitter. He was dropped to No. 2 – where he thought he’d be more comfortable – when Brian Giles came off the disabled list on June 29 and took over in the leadoff spot.
While Marcus has struggled, big brother is thriving. Brian has reached base in 30 of 64 plate appearances since coming off a five-week stay on the DL with a bone bruise in his right knee. He’s batting .320 in that span, with 14 walks.
“I don’t think I’m pressing,” Marcus Giles said. “I just don’t think I’m hitting very well.”
Last year with the Atlanta Braves, Marcus Giles was clearly uncomfortable when he was moved into the leadoff spot. He slumped to .262 with 11 homers, 60 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
The Giles brothers, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, were reunited in December after the Braves didn’t offer him a contract for this season. Brian has been with the hometown Padres since being obtained in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 26, 2003.
Also Wednesday, the Padres designated outfielder Hiram Bocachica for assignment and reinstated outfielder Terrmel Sledge from the 15-day disabled list.
Sledge sprained his right thumb while diving for a ball at San Francisco on June 27. He made three rehab starts with Triple-A Portland, going 5-for-14.
Sledge is batting .224 this season, with six homers and 16 RBIs.
Bocachica hit .238 in 27 games since being claimed off outright waivers from the Oakland Athletics on May 31.
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