Padres 2nd baseman Jedd Gyorko has not been a 2nd baseman for very long. He did not move to the position full-time until just before 2013 Spring Training.
It has not taken the former 3rd baseman long to adjust to his new spot.
Gyorko made a pair of fantastic defensive plays on Sunday, helping the Padres to a 5-1 win over the Tigers at Petco Park. The Friars won their first series of the season 2-1.
In the 3rd inning, Gyorko ranged far to his left to field an Ian Kinsler grounder and keep a run from scoring. In the 5th he made a fully extended dive to his right to rob Max Scherzer of a base hit.
If Scherzer ever sees Gyorko again, it'll be too soon. Jedd also crushed a fastball 385 feet to left field in the 2nd inning, a solo shot that gave the Padres a 1-0 lead. It was Gyorko's first home run of the year.
"Yeah, I should do that more often," he deadpanned after the game.
All of Gyorko's work helped Tyson Ross get his first win of the year. Ross struggled in his first two starts against the Dodgers and Indians, issuing nine walks in 10.1 innings. He worked with pitching coach Darren Balsley during the week and was sharp against Detroit.
Local
Ross only walked one and allowed one run in seven innings, striking out seven.
Tyson was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning. That guy was Xavier Nady, who promptly hit a solo home run on to the beach in right-center. His last three MLB hits have been home runs.
Two of them have come this year with the Padres. The one before that came back in 2012, when he hit one off Padres closer Huston Street at Petco.
The Padres continue their 10-day homestand on Monday when they start a 4-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
