Colorado Rockies Infielder Stephen Cardullo Hits Two Homers on His Birthday

Rookie Stephen Cardullo celebrated his 29th birthday by hitting the first home run of his big league career in Game 1 of a doubleheader between the Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers in Denver on August 31st. It was a pinch hit solo home run in the 7th inning of the Rockies’ 7-0 shutout of the Dodgers.

Cardullo wasn’t done. He started at first base in Game 2 of the twin bill, and in the first inning, launched a grand slam home run to give the Rockies a 5-1 lead.

Cardullo, who played college baseball at Florida State, spent two seasons in the low minors at Missoula of the Pioneer League. Arizona released him after the 2011 season, despite hitting .288 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs in 61 games. Cardullo then bounced around playing for obscure independent minor league teams, such as the London (Ontario) Rippers, the Florence Freedom, and the Rockland Boulders. He got an invitation to Spring Training by Colorado, and was good enough to be assigned to Triple A Albuquerque. He was hitting .308 with 17 homers and 72 RBIs before getting the call to the big club in late August.

The Rockies couldn’t hold the lead that Cardullo staked them to in Game 2. L.A.’s Andrew Toles hit a grand slam of his own with two outs in the ninth to give the Dodgers a 10-8 victory.