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Diaz, with heavy heart, powers Cards past Reds 12-5

"I think the best way to honor him", Diaz said, "is to play this game 100%".

All this weighed on Diaz as he played Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

New York, which beat Miami 12-1, leads the wild-card standings and remained 11/2 games ahead of the Cardinals. Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter (hand) returned to the lineup Monday in his normal leadoff role. Joey Votto whacked his 28th homer and went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Reds, while Scott Schebler lined a two-run homer in the sixth. "It's pretty sad. Yesterday, when I got there - his mom and grandma... He wanted to make some good swings for Jose".

"Watching him cross the plate and watching his reaction as he [shook hands] with the guys, [it] really hit me on how much that meant to him, " St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.

"You can never understand, I guess what each person's going through when they suffer a loss like that". The show goes on and so does life. "It's a tough thing for a young player, anyone to deal with".

Stephenson (2-3) ended up allowing five runs in four innings. NOTES: St. Louis LF Matt Holliday (right thumb fracture) appears doubtful to return this year. Pena predicted Diaz would hit a home run in Tuesday's game. Cincinnati cut its deficit to 5-3 in the fifth when Votto launched his 28th homer, a 417-foot bolt to right.

Stephenson rolled through the first three innings, giving up just a solo homer to Carpenter. "I thought that was unfortunate timing for me, but really a special moment for him", Stephenson said. "I know his family has been through a lot the last couple of days".

Even though Diaz has also defected and now made it to the Major Leagues, he explained that, like most of the Cuban population, he looked to his friend for inspiration.

Outside of Fernandez's teammates with the Miami Marlins, the news didn't hit anyone in baseball harder than Diaz. "The way that organization loved him, I think everybody loved him".

"That was impressive-one of those special moments", said Mike Matheny, who noticed the goal Diaz had to his approach. He is day to day. Diaz missed the Cardinals' games Sunday and Monday to travel to Miami to be with Fernandez's family. DeSclafani has 13 quality starts in 19 starts this season.

A seven-run fourth proved the difference as the Los Angeles Angels brushed aside the Oakland Athletics 8-1, while the Atlanta Braves led the Philadelphia Phillies 6-0 after two and held on for a 7-6 success.

Instead, Diaz hammered an emotional grand slam - the first of his career - to honor the friend who grew up just a few houses away.

stayontheblack.com

Diaz, with heavy heart, powers Cards past Reds 12-5