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Grandal makes history in Padres' win

Jul 1, 2012 - 5:31 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Called up from Triple-A Tucson earlier in the day, Yasmani Grandal made quite an impression in his first career start.

The 23-year-old switch-hitting catcher homered from both sides of the plate, lifting the San Diego Padres to an 8-4 win over the Colorado Rockies Saturday in the middle installment of a three-game set.

With his pair of long balls, Grandal became the first player in MLB history whose first two career hits were homers from different sides of the plate in the same game.

"I can't describe how remarkable this is," Grandal said. "To get called up and hit two home runs for my first two hits, it's incredible."

Alexi Amarista also hit two round-trippers in the win.

Edinson Volquez (5-7) fanned eight and surrendered two runs -- one earned -- on three hits and six walks in six innings for the Padres, who have won two of their last three games.

Wilin Rosario hit a solo homer for Colorado, which took the first game of the series by a 10-2 count.

Trailing 2-1 heading into the sixth, the Padres surged ahead by plating two in the frame, one in the seventh and four more in the eighth.

With one out in the sixth, Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch. Grandal followed and laced an opposite-field two-run shot off Jeremy Guthrie (3-7) that just cleared the wall in left for a 3-2 San Diego advantage.

Amarista clubbed a leadoff homer in the seventh and his three-run shot highlighted the four-run eighth, which made it 8-2. Cameron Maybin's RBI single preceded Amarista's blast.

"We pitched badly from the sixth inning on, because the job that Christian Friedrich did was just exceptional," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Jordan Pacheco ripped an RBI single to left, while Chris Nelson added an RBI double in a two-run Colorado eighth to conclude the scoring.

The Padres struck first in the fourth frame when Grandal belted a solo shot to dead center for a 1-0 lead, but the Rockies went ahead in the fifth after plating a pair.

Rosario led off the frame with a solo blast to center. Eric Young walked and scored on Grandal's throwing error following Dexter Fowler's bunt single.

Game Notes

Grandal made his MLB debut on June 2, but had just one plate appearance before being optioned back to the minors the very next day...San Diego was 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, while Colorado also finished 2- for-9...Friedrich gave up a run on five hits in five innings pitched.