Cardinals rookie shortstop Aledmys Diaz grew up on the same street as Jose Fernandez when they were kids. The last few days have been especially difficult for Diaz and after returning from a memorial service for the Marlins pitcher who died Sunday in a boating accident, he honored his friend on the field with a grand slam in Tuesday night’s win.
Diaz says that is just the beginning.
Diaz sent a 2-1 pitch from Cincinnati starter Robert Stephenson over the left-field wall that traveled 408-foot drive. It turned a 2-1 into a 5-2 lead. It not only woke up the offense, but brought a flood of emotions for Diaz.
Diaz said it was special to hit that grand slam, the first of his career.
Watch the home run (VIDEO/MLB.com, Fox Sports)
Diaz says he plans to continue to honor Fernandez.
St. Louis Cardinals Aledmys Diaz retrieves a Jose Fernandez shirt that hung in the dugout for their game against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 27, 2016. Diaz, a boyhood friend of Jose Fernandez, the Miami Marlins pitcher who died in a boating accident on September 25, 2016, hit his first career grand slam home run in the game as St. Louis defeated Cincinnat 12-5. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
St. Louis Cardinals Aledmys Diaz runs to first base as he grounds out to third base in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 27, 2016. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
St. Louis Cardinals Aledmys Diaz gets an emotional hug from Yadier Molina after hitting a grand slam home run in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on September 27, 2016. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI