Rondos return would be up to him and coach Brad Stevens.

DENVER -- The San Diego Padres are picking their spots with Carlos Quentin as they ease him back into action following his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for the first six weeks of the season. He came through in a tough spot Saturday night. Seth Smith homered against his former team early, Quentin added a two-run, pinch-hit home run, and the San Diego Padres hung on to beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5 Saturday night. "When you come back, youre looking to get hits to put yourself in a nice rhythm out there," Quentin said. "Looking to be hitting in the middle of the lineup, you want to drive the ball and it was nice to get that first ball driven, first home run out of the way." San Diego staked Robbie Erlin (3-4) to a 6-1 lead by roughing up previously unbeaten Jordan Lyles (5-1), who walked a career-high six batters in a season-low 3 1-3 inning outing. The Rockies got an early home run from Troy Tulowitzki and chipped away at the Padres lead, pulling to within a run on Carlos Gonzalezs two-run double in the sixth inning. Quentin rebuilt the cushion in the seventh. Activated this week after spending the first six weeks of the season on the disabled list because of a left knee bone contusion, Quentin batted for reliever Nick Vincent and followed Yasmani Grandals two-out single with a drive off reliever Chris Martin that sailed into the left field bleachers for his first home run of the season. "Youre always trying to add on regardless of where you are but especially here at Coors," Smith said. "A crooked number is waiting every inning, so youve got to try to hold them down and expand the lead any chance you get. Thats why Carlos homer was really big." Quentin swung through a first pitch fastball from Martin, but he connected when the reliever came back with another. "It felt good to get some runs on the board, give us that cushion," Quentin said. "The Rockies were charging. Everybody knows they can swing the bat. Theyve shown it all year. I was fortunate enough to put a good swing on the ball and help slow that momentum." Erlin, who entered hitless in 11 at-bats over his eight previous games, singled twice, including an RBI single in the third inning that capped three consecutive two-run innings by the Padres. On the mound, Erlin allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked none and benefited from a defence that turned five double plays, including four in the first five innings. Huston Street, also a former Rockie, got three outs for his 13th save in as many opportunities. Lyles, who saw his ERA increase to 3.50 from 2.66, had control problems from the outset. He issued first-inning walks to Everth Cabrera and Smith before giving up a two-two-run double to Yonder Alonso. "I just didnt throw enough strikes," Lyles said. "Too many balls, too many strikes. Im not going to be successful like that. You cant put guys on base that many times. Its just one of those things you learn from. Turn the corner and get better from it." Tulowitzki, who had three hits, answered in the bottom of the first with his NL-leading 12th homer of the season. But Smith, who played for the Rockies from 2007-11, made it 4-1 San Diego in the second. One out after Chris Denorfia doubled, Smith drove a 1-1 offering from Lyles over the centre field fence for his fourth home run of the season. The Rockies pulled to 6-3 on Gonzalezs sacrifice fly in the fourth and Jordan Pachecos RBI single in the fifth. "Just a tough night," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "We fought back. I think everyone thought wed end up winning that game but we came up short." NOTES: San Diego right-handed reliever Donn Roach (1-0) will start Sundays series finale against the Rockies in place of Andrew Cashner, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of soreness in his pitching (right) elbow. Roach be opposed by Colorados Juan Nicasio (4-2). ... The Padres recalled RHP Kevin Quackenbush from Triple-A El Paso to fill Cashners roster spot. ... Lyles previous career high for walks was five against Boston on July 3, 2011, while with Houston. ... The pinch homer was the fourth of Quentins career and the fifth by a Padre this season, most in the majors. ... Weiss said Brandon Barnes was unavailable Saturday because of a stomach illness. David Dahl Jersey . - The Oakland Athletics say they are stopping negotiations to extend their lease at the Coliseum. Trevor Story Jersey . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks. http://www.rockiesgearproshop.com/Rockies-Wade-Davis-Kids-Jersey/ . His stated reason for abruptly resigning as head coach of Canadas Olympic womens hockey team was he felt there were doubts about his ability to coach the team to Olympic gold in February. Custom Colorado Rockies Jerseys . A spokeswoman for the NLRB says its "a very incremental move" and does not necessarily indicate the board is close to a finding in the case. NFL owners filed an unfair labour charge against the players union in February, arguing that the union was not negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in good faith. Pat Valaika Jersey . -- The Guelph Storm are moving on to the Western Conference final after defeating the London Knights 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action.BOSTON -- Rajon Rondo took a step toward returning to action on Wednesday, working out with members of Bostons NBA Development League team at the Celtics practice facility. Celtics spokesman Brian Olive said the closed workout of unknown duration took place in Waltham, Mass. Rondo has been out for nearly a year. He was not available for comment. The Celtics had lost nine in a row going into Wednesday nights game against the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden, but Rondo was not expected to play. The four-time All-Star hasnt played since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Jan. 25, and he has been hinting that he would like to return for Friday nights game against the Los Angeles Lakers. Olive said any decision on Rondos return would be up to him and coach Brad Stevens. The coach said this week that Rondo would be put through some physical workouts to make sure he is ready, but ultimately it would be up to the doctors and trainers annd Rondo.dddddddddddd One of those workouts was on Wednesday, when the Celtics announced at 12:26 p.m. that he had been assigned to the Maine Red Claws of the Development League and then announced at 2:19 p.m. that he had been recalled. "Rajon is progressing terrifically in his rehab and this is the next step," general manager Danny Ainge said. "This is a brief assignment so that Rajon can participate in a workout this afternoon with the Red Claws and he will be called back up to the Celtics upon the conclusion of the workout." In his last availability, on Friday, Rondo said he hoped to make his season debut before the All-Star break; Bostons last game before the break is Feb. 12. But on Tuesday he sent a tweet saying, "29,233,380 secs" -- an apparent reference to the amount of time between his surgery and Friday nights game against the Lakers. The Celtics had lost 12 of 13 heading into Wednesday nights game. ' ' '