Yasmani Grandal knocks in five runs for Padres in win

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Yasmani Grandal hit a three-run homer and a pair of RBI singles as the Padres defeated the Rockies, 11-6, in a Cactus League split-squad game at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursday.

The Padres' catcher, one of four players obtained from the Reds this past offseason in the Mat Latos trade, singled in the first and fifth innings. His three-run shot and first of the spring came during a four-run Padres fourth and was struck on the 10th pitch of a full-count at bat against Rockies reliever Carlos Torres.

"It was a fastball right down the pike," said Grandal, who went 3-for-3 with five RBIs in the game. "I've still got a long way to go, but I'm almost there. You can throw me as many fastballs as you want on a 3-2 count, and I'm going to keep fouling them off until I hit one."

Eric Young Jr. led off the game for the Rockies with a homer, his first of the spring, off Padres starter Casey Kelly. Kelly pitched four innings, allowing two runs on six hits with a walk and four strikeouts.

Guillermo Moscoso, still vying for a spot in the Colorado rotation, worked the first three innings for the Rockies, allowing five runs on seven hits with three walks and three whiffs. Torres allowed six runs and six hits in his two innings of work.

Kelly and Grandal could very well be a battery combination for the Triple-A Tucson Padres when camp breaks in two weeks.

"I didn't know I could hit the ball that far," said Grandal, whose homer was launched over the 32-foot green batting eye in dead center, a mammoth blast even by Kino Stadium standards. "I'm beginning to like this park already."


(mlb.com)