In a Giants lineup struggling to produce runs, the eighth spot is an aberration.
The 13 RBIs the No. 8 batter has recorded this season are the most in the batting order. Most startling is that, in 14 of 18 games, the starting pitcher has batted eighth.
Saturday night against the Marlins, Bruce Bochy is batting right-hander Jake Peavy ninth. Left fielder Gregor Blanco, in the starting lineup to give Angel Pagan a day off, occupies the eighth spot.
“Today I just went back to the No. 9 spot with Gregor in there,” Bochy said. “Gregor, he’s a speed guy, too.