PITTSBURGH -- The small-market San Diego Padres made a big investment in February when they signed Eric Hosmer to a $144-million, eight-year contract as a free agent, the largest in franchise history.
The veteran first baseman paid dividends Friday night as he hit two doubles and scored the go-ahead run, and Tyson Ross won for the first time in more than a month as the Padres cooled off the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2.
"It's been really fun," Hosmer said. "I feel like I bring a lot of things to the young hitters that you don't really know about until you play at this level -- how to prepare, how to attack pitchers -- and it's a good reminder for myself, too.