Rivera Pounds Pair of Homers

Ruben Rivera finally put the “see the ball, hit the ball” adage to work.

Touted for his potential but prone to struggling badly at the plate, Rivera had his first two-homer game Friday night as the San Diego Padres beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2.

Meanwhile, Tony Gwynn singled in the first inning to move within 19 hits of 3,000.

“I wish it would be every day like this,” said Rivera, who has a team-high 10 homers.

It could happen like that if Rivera continues to use all fields instead of trying to pull the ball, Manager Bruce Bochy said.

Rivera homered to straightaway center with one out in the second inning and hit a leadoff shot to right-center in the sixth. He lifted a ball to deep right in the eighth, but Jose Guillen made a leaping grab against the fence.

“Sometimes when I try too hard I pull everything,” Rivera said. “When I feel more relaxed, I can see the ball and react, whether it’s inside or outside.”