Giants-Rockies rainout creates pitching puzzle

DENVER - The Giants didn’t have to wait for this game to be called. Getting out of town was another matter.

Hey, planes aren’t easy to line up on a moment’s notice.

The afternoon game between the Giants and Colorado Rockies on Sunday was postponed by rain. A makeup date has yet to be determined. The Giants return to Denver May 22-24 for a three-game series.

The more pressing concern for Giants manager Bruce Bochy was figuring out his starting rotation heading into a three-game series in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. For now, the tentative plan is to start right-hander Tim Lincecum today, but Bochy reserves the right to change his mind after consulting with his coaches on the flight out of town.

“Sure, we would have liked to have gotten this one in,” Bochy said. “Doubleheaders put more pressure on your pitching staff. We are in a stretch now where we don’t get much time off.”

Right-hander Bill Swift’s arm was all warmed up and ready to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday - a pitch he never got the chance to deliver.

The weather ruined the return of Swift, Larry Walker, Dante Bichette and the rest of the 1995 team who showed up to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Coors Field’s opening.

If only the weather would’ve cooperated Sunday. The game was scrubbed about two hours before the scheduled start.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss was at least thankful officials postponed it early, rather than possibly warm up his starter and then have the game called.

“In a perfect world, on a day like this, when it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, you bang it sooner than later,” Weiss said.

Weiss had a chance to catch up with his former teammates this weekend. In that first game at Coors Field two decades ago, Weiss batted leadoff and singled to right.

“In the short time yesterday during batting practice, there were a lot of stories being thrown around,” Weiss said. “Embellished, of course.”

INJURY REPORT

Giants RHP Matt Cain is still set to play catch Tuesday, the next step in his rehabilitation of a flexor tendon strain.