San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva went 3-for-3 with three home runs and five RBIs in an 8-4 win over the visiting Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.
Villanueva hit solo homers off Kyle Freeland in the second and fourth innings, then added a three-run shot off Antonio Senzatela in the seventh.
His first homer went an estimated 400 feet off the facade of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in the left-field corner with one out in the second. The second traveled an estimated 399 feet into the second deck in left with two outs in the fourth. His final homer hurtled an estimated 390 feet to left.
Villanueva joined Hunter Renfroe as the only Padres rookies to hit three homers in a game. Villanueva, the third player to start at third base in San Diego's first five games, became the seventh Padres player overall to go deep three times.
Villanueva, who made his debut with the Padres in September, went 0-for-4 against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday, his only action of the season prior to Tuesday night. Tuesday's performance raised his batting average to .429.
"Another dream come true,'' Villanueva said through an interpreter. "It's amazing, especially on a night like tonight, getting the first win. I was just happy I was able to play my part. I think we all played really well, the pitching was great, and I think if we're able to play that way all together as a team that it's going to be a good year.''
In 12 games with the Padres in 2017, the 26-year-old native of Guadalajara, Mexico, hit .344 with four homers and seven RBIs in 32 at-bats.
Villanueva said he's felt locked in before, "but I've never hit three home runs.''
The difference?
"I'd say luck. It's one of those nights where you go out and have fun with your game and things turned out the way they did. I have a lot of dreams and I have a lot of goals, and little by little I'm starting to reach them.''
Villanueva forced his way onto the 25-man roster with a hot spring, and he'll start again at third base on Wednesday night, manager Andy Green said.
"It's fun watching guys succeed like that,'' Green said. "A guy that's earning everything he's getting right now. Fought his way to the big leagues. ... You see the power; it's real. It was a fun game for him, one I'm sure he'll remember for the rest of his life.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.