Yasmani Grandal of the San Diego Padres celebrates a homerun in the fourth inning with Cameron Maybin during a game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 30, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The homerun was the first of Grandal’s career. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER (AP) — Yasmani Grandal and Alexi Amarista each homered twice, leading Edinson Volquez and the San Diego Padres over the Colorado Rockies 8-4 on Saturday night.
Grandal, called up from Triple-A before the game, made his first big league start memorable by homering for his first two hits in the majors.
Grandal, who had one at-bat in his debut four weeks ago, hit a solo home run in the fourth off Christian Friedrich. Grandal sent a two-run shot in the sixth into the left-field bleachers off Jereremy Guthrie (3-7) for a 3-2 lead.
Amarista, who hit a grand slam Thursday in Houston for his first big league homer, connected in consecutive innings.
Amarista homered to lead off the seventh inning before the Padres blew it open in the eighth off Adam Ottavino, scoring four times for an 8-2 lead. Cameron Maybin hit an RBI single with two outs and Amarista followed with a three-run homer.
Chris Denorfia added three hits for the Padres.
Volquez (5-7) gave up one earned run and three hits in six innings.
Wilin Rosario homered for the Rockies. Jordan Pacheco had an RBI single and Chris Nelson a run-scoring double in the eighth for Colorado.
The Rockies had just two hits through the first five innings but led 2-1. Rosario tied it at 1 when he lead off the fifth with his 13th homer of the season. Pinch hitter Eric Young walked and scored when Grandal, the catcher, overthrew Dexter Fowler’s sacrifice bunt.
Volquez worked hard to hold the Rockies down, walking six and striking out eight. He escaped two jams by getting Carlos Gonzalez to ground into double plays.
Friedrich, working within the 75-pitch limit dictated by Colorado’s four-man rotation, allowed just one run on five hits and struck out five in five innings. His only mistake was Grandal’s homer in the fourth.
NOTES: To make room for Grandal, the Padres optioned C Nick Hundley to Triple-A Tucson. … Rockies RHP Juan Nicasio (left hamstring strain) threw 45 pitches in a simulated game. The team will decide Sunday on the next step in the pitcher’s rehab schedule. … The Padres will send RHP Kip Wells (0-1) to the mound Sunday while the Rockies are expected to recall LHP Drew Pomeranz (0-2) from Triple-A to start for them.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)






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