DENVER — Brian Wilson broke his monthlong silence with reporters Sunday morning. Then he returned to the mound and issued his strongest statement.

“I’m not worried about 2012, and the Giants shouldn’t be worried about 2012 either,” said Wilson, who then provided corroborating evidence while striking out two in a scoreless eighth inning.

The Giants’ blowout victory provided a perfect stage to break in Wilson, who made his first appearance since straining his elbow Aug. 15 at Atlanta. Manager Bruce Bochy said Wilson wouldn’t have inherited a save situation Sunday but would resume the closer role Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

Wilson had kept his thoughts to himself ever since his elbow flared up and the Giants sent him to Dr. James Andrews for an evaluation. Superheroes don’t discuss their aches and pains.

Finally taking questions, he said he wasn’t concerned he did something serious.

“There was no significant damage,” said Wilson, who had Tommy John surgery to reconstruct his elbow when he blew it out in college. “In the game of baseball, you’ve got a clock. You don’t know when your time’s going to be up, but you don’t worry about it.

“There’s a lot harder stuff to worry about in life than how your arm’s going to hold up in the future. No baseball player should be thinking about that. If it goes, it goes. Play hard until then.” He paused, then added, “Or get a new arm.”

Wilson hit 94 mph and had good

action on his slider and cutter. His inning ended when left fielder Justin Christian spectacularly plunged into the third row of the stands to catch a foul ball.

Wilson looked ready — for the stretch run and beyond.

“He used all his pitches,” Bochy said. “We didn’t want him to throw (all) fastballs. We wanted him to pitch a little bit, and he almost went the other way. He did a nice job.”

– ANDREW BAGGARLY

Giants manager Bruce Bochy talked about Brian Wilson like he was a jar of cookies, set on the highest shelf.

“We put him on the DL so we did not have the urge to push him,” Bochy said. “Or to have Willie go out there when he’s not right. He wanted to try to get through it. Long term, it’s the best thing for his career.”

Wilson tried to play catch Friday and Saturday. Both times, he felt discomfort in his inflamed elbow.

“There was no reason to keep going,” head trainer Dave Groeschner said. “We’ll give him the next two or three days to get treatment, he’ll see the doctor and the rest is to be determined.”

Did Wilson fight the decision?

“Yeah, of course,” Groeschner said. “It didn’t come to blows, but … You guys know what we’re up against. We don’t want to put anybody on the DL. But we’ve got to take care of him. It’s not just six weeks. It’s next year, and the year after that.”

Bochy said he remains optimistic that Wilson will be ready when eligible to return Aug. 31. Groeschner also said he fully expects Wilson to pitch again this season, citing the lack of any major structural issues. Officially, Wilson has inflammation and a flexor muscle strain. There are no issues with the flexor tendon, Groeschner said.

“Tuesday we’ll have a more definite timetable,” Groeschner said. “We definitely expect him to come back, but not until we’re sure he’s feeling good. He wants to pitch. That’s awesome. But we’ve got to make

sure he’s feeling good.”

“And you know what? He’s pretty smart. There’s nobody in the clubhouse that wants to be out there more than him.”

As for Wilson’s thoughts? He isn’t sharing them. When he got up from the dominoes table in the clubhouse, I asked him for a minute. He referred me to Groeschner.

Bochy said he could see himself gravitating toward using Jeremy Affeldt in the closer role because he can handle both left-handers and right-handers. But Bochy also wouldn’t shy away from using Affeldt earlier in the game if there’s a matchup or a run of hitters he wants him to face. Affeldt also could be used for two-inning saves or even two-plus, Bochy said.

Everyone is available behind Dan Runzler, and Bochy has an off-day tomorrow so he won’t be afraid to use the entire bullpen if necessary. Edlefsen was lights-out this spring and he is feeling good again after missing six weeks with his own elbow issues.

For more on the Giants, see Andrew Baggarly’s Extra Baggs blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs.

Beltran finally placed on DL with hand injury

ATLANTA — The Giants couldn’t wait any longer on Carlos Beltran.

With his strained right hand making scant progress, club officials finally placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

Beltran traveled with head trainer Dave Groeschner to Cleveland, where he received another cortisone shot and a second opinion from hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham.

Beltran is eligible to return when the Giants begin their next homestand on Tuesday. But is that date realistic?

“I think so,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “I didn’t learn anything different other than that he’ll need more time. It takes two to three days for the cortisone to work.”

Beltran has missed the last eight games but the Giants delayed putting him on the DL in the hopes his strained right hand would improve. But with a lack of progress, plus a massively compromised roster, the move became a no-brainer.

Romo posts reliever’s version of a perfect game

The Giants didn’t pour out of the dugout to mob Sergio Romo Monday night. There was no tension or fanfare as he entered the ninth inning with Arizona leading 5-2, inherited a runner at third base and got Justin Upton to ground to shortstop on a 2-2 pitch.

But Romo accomplished something grand as he skipped to the dugout. With that out, he completed the reliever’s version of a perfect game.

Over 12 appearances beginning July 6, Romo had retired 27 consecutive hitters — no hits, walks or base runners of any form — while striking out 13.

Romo was stunned silent when told of his feat, then broke into a nervous laugh.

“I’m just having fun,” said Romo, who made it 28 for 28 when he got the final out of Wednesday’s 8-1 victory. “I’m just trying not to be the reason anything goes negative for us. It’s easy to pitch when you know the team’s got your back.”

Romo is putting up numbers seldom seen since Dennis Eckersley’s heyday. In 36 innings, he has 52 strikeouts and only 4 walks. He allowed a total of one base runner in July.

He has a 1.75 ERA in 51 games, and right-handers are hitting .112 with 46 strikeouts in 89 at-bats.

“It’s understanding what I can and cannot do on the mound and with the baseball,” Romo said. “I don’t try to throw 95 mph because I don’t throw 95 mph. For some reason, I’ve been focused out there.

“I want to be what my

teammates think I am, which is a quality big league pitcher. That’s all I’m trying to do.”

Madison Bumgarner allowed eight hits but just one run over 7 2/3 innings as the Giants rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday at AT&T Park.

Bumgarner (6-9) did not walk a batter and struck out eight as the Giants won for the sixth straight time behind their 21-year-old left-hander and took two of three from the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Milwaukee jumped in front 1-0 in the first when Braun slammed a 1-0 pitch from Bumgarner over the center field fence. But that was the last big blow against the 21-year-old left-hander.

The Giants tied the game when Bumgarner doubled to center against Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo (11-7) in the bottom of the third and scored when Jeff Keppinger lined a two-out single to left.

San Francisco took the lead in the next inning on Mike Fontenot’s one-out sacrifice fly, and that’s all the Bumgarner and the Giants’ bullpen needed the rest of the way.

After Corey Hart singled with one out in the eighth, Bumgarner got Josh Wilson on a fly to right with his 93rd pitch of thday, but manager Bruce Bochy called right-hander Sergio Romo to face Braun, who hit a meek comebacker to end the threat. Brian Wilson pitched his second straight 1-2-3 ninth for his 31st save.

It was the 18th straight start for Bumgarner in which he has walked two or fewer batters. The last Giant with a longer streak was Juan Marichal, who had 21 straight over the 1970-71 seasons. Bumgarner has also won

three straight decisions covering his last six starts.

GRADING THE GIANTS

Starting pitching: A-

Cumulative 32-28 record belies the rotation’s ability to pitch deep into games.

Bullpen: A

Brian Wilson’s workload is a concern; the rest of the bullpen has been absolute nails.

Catching: C

Neither Eli Whiteside nor Chris Stewart is an everyday player, but they have shepherded the staff after Buster Posey’s catastrophic collision on May 25.

Infield: D

Starting the year with Miguel Tejada at SS was a mistake, but rookie Brandon Crawford has provided stabilizing defense.

Outfield: C-

Who’d have thought Nate Schierholtz would be the most productive member of this crew?

Bench: D

Pinch hitters have a .162 average, worst in the N.L.

Manager: A

Even as 14 players hit the disabled list, Bruce Bochy never showed signs of panic — and neither did his team.

– ANDREW BAGGARLY