Posey plays four innings, nabs base-stealer

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- In his gradual return from a horrifichome-plate collision last May 25, Buster Posey took another step by playingfour innings in the Giants 7-5 win over the Mariners Sunday.Posey was hitless in two at-bats against 2010 American LeagueCy Young Award winner Felix Hernandez, after going 0-for-1 against AroldisChapman Friday, but was happy with the progress. I felt good, Posey said. I got ahead 2-0 in bothat-bats. I saw some good pitches in the first at-bat. Got a pretty good pitch2-0, just rolled over it. I feel good at the plateI feel like Im seeing theball well.Even though Posey is still searching for his first hit inthree at-bats, he nailed his first would-be base-stealer after two missedopportunities.
After Carlos Peguero singled off Brian Wilson in the fourth inning, he tried totake second, but Posey popped up out of the crouch smoothly and fired achest-high throw to Emmanuel Burriss, who applied an easy tag for the third outon a bang-bang play.Wilson was happy to have the man who caught his WorldSeries-clinching pitch in 2010 back behind the plate.Hes a huge part of the team and the energy, Wilson said. Weasked him as a rookie to be a leader behind the dish with the remarkablepitching staff that we have. It was a blow to the energy last year having himout. Hes had a long winter, but hes been extremely disciplined and hes doingall he can to get back. It was nice to see him behind the dish todayrealnice.Posey didnt appear to hold back running the bases after making contact in bothat-bats.I felt more comfortable getting out of the box today then Idid a couple of days ago, he said.Posey was also tested in the second inning as the Mariners mounted a long rallyto keep him in the crouch for longer than normal. But he was happy to have theopportunity to put pressure on his surgically repaired ankle.Its nice just to have some different situations, Poseysaid. As much as I want it to be 1-2-3 for my own sake, its good to have alittle bit longer innings and to test it a little bit.Posey said the plan is to catch four innings again on Tuesday. But Bruce Bochysaid he would wait until talking with head trainer Dave Groeschner beforefinalizing the schedule for Poseys next appearance.