SAN FRANCISCO – There was a frightening moment during the Giants' workout at AT&T Park on Saturday when first-base coach Roberto Kelly was struck on the back of the head by a line drive and had to be hospitalized with a concussion.

Kelly was standing behind a protective screen near second base when he was struck by Buster Posey's line drive. A crowd gathered around him and Kelly appeared woozy when he left the field with his arms around the shoulders of two helpers on either side of him.

Kelly was alert when taken to a nearby hospital, underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with a concussion, a Giants official said. He was released Saturday evening, and a Giants trainer told the Associated Press in a text message that Kelly was "doing better, going home."

The Giants said Kelly would meet with doctors this morning and be on the field for Game 1 of the NLCS as long as he is medically cleared.

Posey said he didn't see the ball hit Kelly, but that "anytime somebody gets hit in the head, you're worried for them. He seemed to be doing all right. He was cognizant and answering questions."

Best-laid plans – The Cardinals played a game Friday night. The Giants did not. And yet both teams arrived in San Francisco around the same time Saturday morning.

The Cardinals staged a dramatic ninth-inning rally on the road in Game 5 of their division series against the Washington Nationals and then flew across the country to San Francisco, where manager Mike Matheny said they arrived at their hotel around 6:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, the Giants, who finished their series in Cincinnati on Thursday, were waiting in the area to find out if they would open the NLCS at home or in Washington, D.C. When the Giants left their hotel for the airport, the Nationals, who had jumped ahead 6-0, were still nursing a lead. Players watched from the plane as the Cardinals came back.

"Whoever made the call to stay and watch the end of the game, I give them credit," Posey said. "Because I was ready to hop on the plane to D.C."

A mechanical issue then delayed their plane about 2 1/2 hours, manager Bruce Bochy said, and they ended up getting in "around 5:30 a.m., 6, somewhere in there."

Close to the vest – Bochy opted not to name a rotation beyond Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong in Games 1 and 2, though there is a strong possibility it will be Matt Cain in Game 3. Barry Zito and Tim Lincecum are available to pitch out of the bullpen this weekend, Bochy said.

After giving up four runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Reds, Bumgarner said he's "ready to get back out there. I had a lot of rest, and (am) just excited to get us started on a good note."

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