DENVER -- The Giants' outfield woes continued Saturday night as center fielder Denard Span sustained a mild right shoulder sprain while colliding with the wall during San Francisco's 12-3 loss to Colorado.
Though Span told MLB.com that X-rays were negative, manager Bruce Bochy said the 33-year-old might need a couple of days of rest before he can play again.
Span hurt himself after making a running catch of Charlie Blackmon's second-inning drive. Span outran the ball and snared it a step or two in front of the barrier but couldn't avoid slamming into it. He left the game immediately.
One night earlier, right fielder Hunter Pence bruised his left knee as he lost a Blackmon liner in the lights yet gamely tried to catch the ball. Pence missed it, enabling Blackmon to circle the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
Giants left-hander Matt Moore, who allowed six runs and nine hits in four innings Saturday, hinted that if he and his fellow pitchers threw better, perhaps the outfielders would be safer.
"It sucks," Moore said. "You got to feel a little bit responsible for what's going on out there. Hats off to [the outfielders] for just playing hard and going and getting it, and not thinking twice about it."
Pence was able to pinch-hit in the eighth inning but was deemed unavailable to perform defensively. This, combined with Span's departure, forced Bochy to install Eduardo Nunez, San Francisco's regular third baseman, in right field. Gorkys Hernandez, who started in right field, moved to center.
This marked Nunez's first outfield appearance since the 2015 season with Minnesota. After the game, Bochy revealed he had initiated discussions with Nunez about playing left field occasionally.
As the roster is currently constituted, that would enable Conor Gillaspie to play third and receive more at-bats.
It also might create a position for Christian Arroyo, the Giants' top position-player prospect who's batting .424 with Triple-A Sacramento.