Grand slump
scored on Austin Hedges’ sacrifice bunt to make it 7-5.
That run came in handy because Belt homered again, off Ryan Buchter, to straightaway center with two outs in the eighth.
Margot, called up late last season, became the first rookie to hit two homers in a Padres home opener. He had only two home runs in five minor league seasons.
Margot homered to left-center leading off the first and to left leading off the third, both off Matt Cain.
“It’s something you think about, but you never really think it’s going to happen,” Margot said. “I was able to execute. It was great.”
Margot is 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds, so his power is deceptive.
“The more you play the more you learn,” he said. “There are people who may not necessarily have power that you might see but who make good contact and hit the ball well. The more you do it, it can be something that comes out.”
Jose Torres (1-0) pitched a perfect seventh for his first big league win.
With no outs in the sixth, Belt hit an 84mph slider from Luis Perdomo to right-center. Perdomo had loaded the bases on a leadoff single by Conor Gillaspie, who was pinch-hitting for Cain, a double by Joe Panik and a walk to Aaron Hill.
The Giants lost for the fourth time in five games.
“We did a heck of a job coming back and this is what makes it a little difficult, I guess, when you do some great things that happen during the game,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “Belt’s grand slam to give us the lead ... a lot of good things happen, but we are just having a hiccup somewhere along the line and that is what is costing us these games.” TRAINER’S ROOM Giants: RHP Hunter Strickland was placed on the paternity list. His wife Shelley is due to give birth to a daughter, Kinsey Rae, this weekend. ... LHP Steven Okert was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento.
Padres: C Hector Sanchez was placed on the seven-day disabled list with concussion symptoms after getting hit in the mask with a foul tip at the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. ... The Padres selected the contract of OF Jabari Blash, who hit seven homers during spring training, and transferred OF Alex Dickerson to the 60-day disabled list.
NICE GESTURE Padres manager Andy Green’s wife, Jessie, and their three daughters passed out cookies in the press box before the game and wished media members happy opening day. “I heard they were buttering you up with some cookies, huh?” Andy Green said. “Well played. Not even my idea. Well played.”
UP NEXT Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (0-0, 3.86) didn’t get a decision in the season opener at Arizona, but he became the first pitcher ever to hit two homers in his team’s first game.