TUCSON, Ariz. -- Trot Nixon had a couple of answers for a small band of hecklers on Monday -- a two-run homer and a two-run double.
"I guess they were Yankee fans," the former Red Sox outfielder said after he helped Arizona beat San Diego 8-4 on Monday. "If you want to get me right, bring in some Yankee fans."
Nixon's shot over the bullpen in right field came off starter Shawn Estes and the opposite-field double off reliever Mike Gardner.
He gave the harassing fans a stare as he rounded third and came home after his second-inning home run.
Nixon, batting .156 for the spring entering the game, signed a minor league contract with Arizona and probably will make the opening day roster, mostly because Chad Tracy is still recovering from knee surgery.
He said he had studied video Sunday and worked on his form in the batting cage and in batting practice.
"I just saw the ball real well," he said of the home run. "The ball was kind of up in the zone. I think he was trying to get ahead, get a strike in there. I just saw it really good and got the bat on the ball."
Manager Bob Melvin said Nixon could help fill the gap left by the departure of veteran Tony Clark, both at the plate as a late-inning left-handed threat and in the clubhouse.
"He a proven winner," Melvin said. "He's been on some championship teams and that goes a long way. All these guys know who he is. He's a tough guy that works hard."
Nixon, an outfielder all his career, expects to play his first game at first base in the not-too-distant future.
The Padres' Brian Giles made his first spring training appearance with the major league club in his comeback from microfracture surgery. He had batted in a pair of minor league games. Giles grounded out twice in two at bats, once into a double play.
He didn't see much action in right field, chasing a foul ball that went into the seats and turning to watch Nixon's homer sail over the fence. He said he felt no pain in his knee running in the outfield or on the bases.
"It's nice," Giles said. "You work hard all winter to get to this point. Hopefully we keep progressing forward and we're ready to go on March 31."
Estes had another rocky outing in his attempt to make the San Diego roster after reconstructive elbow surgery. He allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. Estes is 0-3 this spring with a 15.00 ERA.
Glendon Rusch, a candidate for long reliever or fifth starter, threw two scoreless innings, striking out two and walking one for San Diego.
Arizona's Edgar Gonzalez (2-0), whose role will be as a fill-in starter and long reliever, had another strong spring outing. He gave up a run on three hits, striking out three and hitting a batter. He's got a 1.29 ERA this spring.
Arizona left-handed starter Doug Davis threw five innings in a minor league game against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed two runs -- including a home run by Jim Thome -- on two hits, striking out four and walking none.
