SAN FRANCISCO — So much for Omar Vizquel slipping quietly into retirement during the All-Star break.

The 41-year-old shortstop was in the lineup Friday night as the Giants opened the second half of the season against the Milwaukee Brewers and might have been the most eager player in the clubhouse to return to the field.

"If there is a guy in here who wants to forget about the first half, it's me," Vizquel said. "I'm fresh. I'm coming from home, from seeing the kids and the family, which was like a little recharge for me. I hope I can start back from zero and have a good beginning to the second half."

The first half was so much of a struggle for the 11-time Gold Glove winner that a report surfaced last week that he might not come back after the break. Vizquel reiterated that he never considered retirement, although he conceded that he was embarrassed with his performance.

Vizquel started the season on the disabled list and never looked comfortable at the plate after missing six weeks recovering from knee surgery. The career .272 hitter entered the All-Star break batting .159 and hadn't had a hit in consecutive games since the first week of June.

"I just have to feel good for a whole week, that's the only way I'm going to get my confidence back," Vizquel said. "I hope that I can get that feeling back."

Flu sidelines two

The flu bug that surfaced last week in

The pair was scratched from the lineup just before batting practice. Durham left the ballpark before the game, leaving the Giants with healthy three bench players.

"We have some pretty bad crud going around right now," manager Bruce Bochy said.

Roberts update

Outfielder Dave Roberts' rehab assignment with Triple-A Fresno is being accelerated, although Bochy said the veteran won't return to the Giants until at least Wednesday.

Roberts is scheduled to play nine innings for the first time today. Through Thursday, Roberts was 5-for-16 in six games with the Grizzlies and on July 8 hit his first minor league homer since 2000.

Short hops

In other injury rehab news, left-hander Noah Lowry (forearm) played catch for the first time since mid-April. Right-hander Merkin Valdez (elbow strain) was evaluated by Dr. James Andrews during the All-Star break and has been cleared to begin throwing next week.

— Laurence Miedema,

MediaNews staff