Diaz honors Jose’s legacy in grand fashion

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.

He hung a No. 16 jersey in the Cardinals’ dugout as a tangible sign of support for a grieving family and community. And then, carrying with him the weight of personal loss and professional expectation, Diaz produced not only one of the most poignant moments of the Cardinals’ season, but also one of its biggest hits. His fourth-inning grand slam, the first of Diaz’s career, helped lift the Cardinals to a 12-5 victory over the Reds and, Diaz hoped, also the spirits of so many still hurting.

“I did that for his family,” said a tearful Diaz. “I’ve been through a lot of things the last couple days. This helped a little bit.”

Diaz, who grew up a few houses away from Fernandez in the Cuban neighborhood of Santa Clara, had not played since learning from his mother Sunday morning that his childhood friend had died in a boating accident. He left the Cardinals to console Fernandez’s mourning mother and grandmother during a private gathering before he had to try and turn his attention back to a pennant race.

As he readied for Tuesday’s game, Diaz promised himself that this — and every night after — would be different. He wanted to play as Jose would.  

“I think the best way to honor him is to come here every day and play this game 100 percent,” Diaz said. “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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