Fernandez’s childhood friend Diaz hits 1st career slam in return

ST. LOUIS — After spending much of Monday in Miami, where he mourned the loss of Jose Fernandez alongside family and close friends, Aledmys Diaz returned to St. Louis ready to pay tribute to the childhood friend who died early Sunday in a boating accident.

That tribute began with Diaz hanging a No. 16 jersey in the Cardinals’ dugout before Tuesday’s game against the Reds, but Diaz said it will continue in a much more profound way. Speaking just before his first start since Fernandez’s death, Diaz insisted that the most appropriate way to honor Fernandez is to forever play with the passion and joy that defined Fernandez’s career.

With his heart still heavy heart, Diaz then went out and delivered one of the biggest hits of the Cardinals’ season.

Diaz blasted his first career grand slam to put the Cardinals ahead, 5-2, in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game against Cincinnati. It gave St. Louis, which entered the day one game back of the Giants for the second National League Wild Card spot, its first lead since Saturday.

Diaz lifted his arms to the sky as he reached home and stopped to embrace teammates Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright before returning to the dugout. Once there, the crowd drew him out for a curtain call, which Diaz acknowledged by tipping his cap both to the fans and to the sky.

The emotional home run came one night after Dee Gordon hit the most unlikely of homers as the Marlins returned to the field.

“I think the best way to honor him is to come here every day and play this game 100 percent,” said Diaz, who grew up a few houses down from Fernandez in the Cuban neighborhood of Santa Clara. “That’s what he would want. I will go out there and play 100 percent every day and give my team a chance to win, like he did.

“He reminded us how fun this game is. He loved this game. He liked to compete. Going forward, I have to love the game even more. Every chance I have to put on the uniform, I have to give everything I have today. That’s the legacy he gives us.”

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