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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The San Francisco Giants have promoted Triple-A hitting coach Hensley Meulens to the major league club.

Meulens was hired as the club's big league hitting coach Monday to replace Carney Lansford, who was told last month by manager Bruce Bochy that his contract wouldn't be renewed.

The Giants finished 88-74 this season, four games behind wild-card winner Colorado and with 16 more victories than in 2008. But the team is looking to boost its run production after having the second-fewest homers (122) and drawing the fewest walks (392) in the majors in 2009.

The 42-year-old Meulens spent parts of seven season in the major leagues as an infielder and outfielder with the New York Yankees, Montreal and Arizona, retiring after the 1998 season.

He was the Triple-A hitting instructor for the Indianapolis Indians of the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization from 2005-08.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-02-09 1630CST | save this article / add to your favorites list