SAN DIEGO -- In his third big league game, Rymer Liriano showed off his raw power in one of the more impressive ways possible at Petco Park. Josh Evans Authentic Jersey . Lirianos first big league homer was a two-run shot that helped the San Diego Padres beat the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Wednesday to tie their season-high with their fifth straight win. It travelled an estimated 427 feet and landed in the top deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner. "It felt great," said Liriano, who was promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Monday. "I felt excited when I crushed the homer." That, he did. It was the 14th homer hit to the top balcony of the Western Metal building since Petco opened in 2004, and the eighth by a Padres player. "Third level Western Metal, thats always a good one," manager Bud Black said. "I like the fact he got to an inside fastball. The Rockies the first two days got him with some fastballs in. He turned on that one. We know that hes got the raw power. That showed up today on a fastball from a pitcher that was pitching inside pretty effectively all day. That was good to see." Said Liriano: "I feel really comfortable when I get a fastball in. Im excited. Some people say I dont ever hit a fastball in. I feel really good right now to hit a fastball." Abraham Almonte also homered and Jedd Gyorko tied his career-high with four hits. The Padres are 16-8 since the All-Star break, including winning 11 of 14. The Padres swept a series for the third time this year, all at home. The Rockies, who have the worst record in the majors at 18-44, struck out 13 times against Ian Kennedy (9-10) and four relievers, giving them 66 in their last six games. "Weve been striking out entirely too much lately," manager Walt Weiss said. "Its about competing when you get to two strikes." Lirianos shot came off left-hander Tyler Matzek (2-8) and gave San Diego a 3-1 lead. Chris Nelson was aboard on a leadoff single. Almonte homered to left with one out in the sixth, his first since being acquired in a trade with Seattle on July 31. "The one to Liriano, I thought it was a good pitch," Matzek said. "He turned on it. It looked like he was sitting on that pitch. The one to Almonte, I was trying to go away and left it over the middle. That was probably a mistake pitch. He made me pay for it." Kennedy struck out eight in six innings while allowing three runs and six hits, with two walks. Joaquin Benoit pitched the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances. The Rockies tied it the score 3-3 in the fourth with a leadoff homer to left by DJ LeMahieu, his fourth, and an RBI double to left by Justin Morneau. The Padres popped back ahead on Yasmani Grandals sacrifice fly in the fifth that brought in Gyorko, who hit a leadoff double. San Diego got a run in the bottom of the first with some help from replay. Yangervis Solarte originally was called out on a grounder to shortstop. Manager Bud Black appealed and the call was overturned, giving Solarte an infield single. He scored on Rene Riveras one-out single. Matzek allowed five runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out a career-high nine and walked two. Gyorko raised his average to a season-high .199. He struggled after signing a $35 million contract extension two weeks into his second season. He later spent 44 games on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis. WHIFFS Padres pitchers set a franchise record for strikeouts in a three-game series with 37. The previous record was 35 during a series at the Chicago Cubs July 22-24. NICE TRY Liriano, the right fielder, almost had the Padres third diving catch into the stands in two games, but couldnt hold onto a foul ball as he tumbled into the seats. On Tuesday night, 3B Chris Nelson and 1B Tommy Medica made nice catches of foul balls while tumbling into the stands. TRAINERS ROOM Rockies: All-Star SS Troy Tulowitzki, leading the majors with a .340 average, will have surgery on his left hip Friday in Vail, Colorado, ending his season. Padres: SS Solarte strained a muscle in his left side making an errant throw in the seventh and was replaced by Alexi Amarista. 1B Yonder Alonso will go on the DL with a right wrist injury. UP NEXT Rockies: LHP Jorge De La Rosa (11-8, 4.34) starts at home Thursday vs. Cincinnati. Hes made nine straight starts of at least six innings. Padres: LHP Eric Stults (5-13, 4.76) has allowed three or fewer runs earned runs in eight of his last nine starts going into his assignment Thursday at St. Louis. Alan Ball Jersey . Bautista led off the 10th inning with his second homer of the game, lifting the Toronto Blue Jays to a 5-4 win over the Cleveland Indians on Saturday night. Allen Hurns Authentic Jersey . -- Canadas Milos Raonic defeated Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France on Saturday to advance to the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.INDIANAPOLIS -- Three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti will drive the pace car in the 98th running of the Indy 500 in May. Franchitti was forced to retire in November from injuries suffered in an October IndyCar race at Houston. The four-time series champion won the Indy 500 in 2007, 2010 and 2012. "It is a tremendous honour for me to be asked to drive the pace car for the Indianapolis 500," said Franchitti. "As a historian of motorsport and as a three-time winner of this great race, I will appreciate every minute of getting to pace the field. Although I wont be competing in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, this will be as close as one person can get to the action." Franchitti will pace the field in the May 25 race in a 2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z/28. Its the eighth time a Camaro has served as the pace car, and the 25th time a Chevrolet has paced the race. "He is a true champion who has earned the respect and admiration of competitors and race fans alike," said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice-president of performance vehicles and motorsports. &"It will be very special to have Dario lead the field to the green flag at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Allen Hurns Jersey. " Franchittis appearance as the pace car driver signifies a huge shift in Franchittis career. Hes moved into a driver development role with Chip Ganassi Racing, which switched to Chevrolet for the 2014 IndyCar season. Chevrolet has a long history with Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indianapolis 500 and the IndyCar Series. Chevrolet was founded in 1911, the year of the inaugural 500-mile race, and the Chevrolet brothers - company co-founder Louis, Arthur and Gaston - all competed in early Indy 500 races. Arthur Chevrolet competed in the 1911 race and Gaston Chevrolet won it in 1920. "We are excited to see Dario Franchitti back at the Brickyard, where he has had a very successful driving career," said Doug Boles, president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "Not only will his appearance in the Camaro Z/28 pace car thrill race fans, it underscores Chevrolets important place in the past, present and future of the Indianapolis 500." ' ' '
