Diaz bests childhood buddy Fernandez

MIAMI — Though their lives long ago intersected and their careers, in many ways, will forever be intertwined, Aledmys Diaz and Jose Fernandez, with the exception of those impromptu street ball games many years ago, had never before gone toe to toe.

That chance came Thursday, when Fernandez drew his first season start against a Cardinals club that Diaz joined in April. The elder but less-experienced Diaz went on to shine in this matchup, tagging Fernandez for a two-run homer and RBI double that keyed the Cardinals’ 5-4 win over the Marlins at Marlins Park.

“That was a lot of fun, trying to compete against my buddy,” Diaz said afterward. “He loves competing, and so do I. I just tried to enjoy that moment.”

Their relationship dates back to those years on Eighth Street, where Diaz and Fernandez grew up doors apart in the Cuban neighborhood of Santa Clara. Fernandez credits Diaz’s father, Rigoberto, and uncle, Nelson, for introducing him to baseball.

Their lives diverged after Fernandez defected to the United States as a teenager. Diaz followed four years later, and the two ended up as teammates on the National League All-Star roster this summer. Never before, …

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