NEW YORK – Hours after learning that his grandmother had died, Brandon Belt sent a text message to his wife and parents on Tuesday, admitting he was struggling and unsure he could play.
His father reminded him that his grandmother, Margaret Peterson, would have liked to see him around here.
“I think it locked me up,” Belt said.
Belt hit a heavy bat with a heavy heart, and hit two of San Francisco’s four homers before dedicating them and the rest of his season to his grandmother’s memory after the Giants’ 8- win. 0 against the Mets.
“I’ve been a little dazed all day,” he said. “I was happy to be able to come here and do this for her.”
The 33-year-old belt finished with a 2-on-30 skate with a unit that landed on top of Citi Field’s central block at the first inning, scored again in the fourth and also had two singles. The second home run was the best number 19 of the season.
“I couldn’t help but feel like there was something powerful when he hit the first home run,” said Gabe Kapler, Giants manager.
Belt’s grandmother died Tuesday morning from COVID-19, Belt said. She grew up in Texas on her mother’s mother’s street and said she and her grandfather provided financial aid when Belt was pursuing a high school baseball career traveling to show tournaments.
“She was always proud to show off me with her friends,” Belt said.
Kapler said he hoped Belt would leave the team for funeral services in the coming days and that he would have the full support of the club.
“It just seemed closed,” Kapler said. “And I think it’s an amazing thing considering what he went through today.”
The league’s top giants have won 20 of 27 games as they tried to hold on to the Dodgers in the NL West. San Francisco came in on Tuesday with a 2½ game lead.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.