Giants' Angel Pagan dealing with knee problem

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Denver --

Center fielder Angel Pagan might be able to tell reporters he feels fine, but when his manager asks, he has to be more forthright. When Bruce Bochy asked, Pagan admitted to persistent soreness in his right knee that was evident in the way he moved Tuesday night.

Bochy insisted Pagan does not have a serious injury, but said Wednesday that the 32-year-old will come to the ballpark when the team is off Thursday for treatment and possible diagnostic tests.

"We want to make sure he's OK, make sure nothing's going on," Bochy said after penning a lineup without Pagan. He grounded out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning.

Bochy has good reason to be cautious. He saw what life was like without Pagan atop the lineup for three months last season, and it was not pretty. Pagan was out with a left hamstring tendon injury that ultimately required surgery. The Giants were 39-32 when Pagan played and 37-54 when he did not.

The knee pain affects Pagan when he bats right-handed and was evident in center field Tuesday.

"One thing about Angel," Bochy said, "he runs so well and he's such a good athlete, I could tell he wasn't 100 percent."

Buster Posey also sat but was not hurt. He drew an intentional walk as a pinch-hitter in the 10th.

Schedule: The Giants face Cleveland on Friday night in the first of 20 interleague games this season. The Giants went 6-14 against the AL last year.

San Diego follows Cleveland into AT&T. The Giants then embark on a treacherous trip with three games at Atlanta, three in Pittsburgh and four in Los Angeles with no days off.

The Giants were 15-17 against the NL East in 2013, 11-23 against the NL Central.

On deck Thursday Off Friday vs. Indians 7:15 p.m. CSNBA Carrasco (0-2) vs. Hudson (2-1) Saturday vs. Indians 1:05 p.m. CSNBA McAllister (2-0) vs. Lincecum (1-1)