Gyorko adds 3-run shot to homestand haul

SAN DIEGO -- Typically, the road has been much kinder to Padres shortstop Jedd Gyorko this season than spacious Petco Park. But you can bet he'll be a little bit sad to hit the road this weekend.

Gyorko continued his torrid homestand Wednesday with a three-run home run, the decisive blow in the Padres' 11-4 victory over the Rockies at Petco Park on Wednesday night.

That home run off Rockies pitcher Chris Rusin -- who tossed a shutout against the Padres on Aug. 16 at Coors Field -- was Gyorko's fourth home run in the first 10 games of this 11-game homestand.

The homestand concludes at 12:40 p.m. on Thursday before the team heads to AT&T in San Francisco for a three-game series beginning Friday, the start of a nine-game road trip.

As for Gyorko, he might petition to keep the games at Petco Park, the way he has been swinging the bat. He's a .273 hitter on the road, .216 at home.

You would not have known as much recently, though.

"Baseball is littered with guys who are good athletes, who rise to the occasion," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy of Gyorko. "Jedd is that guy for us."

After Wednesday's big win over the Rockies, he's hitting .300 (12-for-40) with the aforementioned four home runs and 11 RBIs against the Rangers, Dodgers and now the Rockies.

"It's always continuing, you're never satisfied," Gyorko said of the improvements he has made to his swing and approach. "But my approach and swing are where they need to be right now. Hopefully I'll be able to keep repeating it."

Gyorko's recent run of offensive success has more or less been a continuation of the better at-bats Gyorko has had since returning from a demotion to Triple-A El Paso on June 30. He spent 20 days in Triple-A.

He's hitting .267 since returning with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs.

"He's realizing the ballplayer he is. He's capable of a lot of things. He's not just capable of hitting 20 homers or hitting .220 or just playing second base. He's taking his game to another level. He's really coming into his own. He's a winning player," Murphy said.

Video: COL@SD: Murphy on Gyorko and Shields in 11-4 win

Gyorko, a second baseman by trade, made his 13th start at shortstop Wednesday. The team is looking to see how he handles the position to see if he's a viable fit there for next year and beyond.

He's held up fine there defensively. His bat has made most of the noise.

"I would say it's more quality at-bats. As long as I'm swinging at the pitches that I should be and taking the ones I'm not. As long as you're doing that, the chances of success are going to be a lot higher," he said. "I'm looking at quality of at-bats and hard contact.

"I'm happy with where I'm at right now."