MIAMI -- Tears started flowing for New York Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud as the crowd cheered each Miami Marlins player taking the field for pregame warmups. D'Arnaud had tears return when the Marlins Park video board played a tribute to the late Jose Fernandez. And d'Arnaud teared up again when the Marlins all took the field wearing No. 16.
On an emotional night at Marlins Park, d'Arnaud began full-out crying when Dee Gordon opened the bottom of the first inning by first settling into the batter's box on the right side to mimic Fernandez's stance, then switched to the left side and slugged a homer against Bartolo Colon. The long ball set the tone for the Marlins' emotional 7-3 win over the Mets on Monday night at Marlins Park in the first game since Fernandez's death in a boating accident.
"I saw him crying right when he rounded first base," d'Arnaud said about Gordon. "I was crying, too. I had my head down. But when he was coming to home plate, and tears were coming down his face, they were coming down mine, too. I'm pretty sure the whole world felt that emotion in that moment -- whether you were here or watching it on TV or anywhere. For that to happen, for him to honor him with his batting stance the first pitch of the game too, and to hit a homer, it's unbelievable."
The Mets were praised for their conduct by the Marlins on Monday night. Gordon labeled the Mets "first class" for their pregame gesture of being sure to hug the Marlins players on the field before the first pitch.
The Mets tried to balance being respectful with an urgent need to win games. They are neck-and-neck with the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals for two wild-card spots, and each win is at a premium.
Manager Terry Collins met with his players before the game and relayed the importance of playing the game hard as a proper tribute to Fernandez.
Back in 2001, in the first game back in New York after 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mike Piazza hit a dramatic homer to lift the Mets over the Atlanta Braves. In the subsequent years, high-profile men affiliated with the Braves, including John Schuerholz and Chipper Jones, said it was only appropriate that the Mets won that game.
Collins could not similarly label it appropriate on Monday night that the Marlins won -- not in the heat of a wild-card race, although perhaps he will be able to do so in retrospect, especially if the Mets reach the postseason.
With five games remaining in their regular season, the Mets (83-74) now lead the Giants (82-74) by a half-game and the Cardinals (81-75) by 1.5 games. The Giants were idle on Monday, while the Cardinals were drubbed by the Cincinnati Reds.
"It's hard," Collins said. "I know that it all was for Jose, and the memory of Jose, but I like to win. It's important for us. We're lucky St. Louis is getting beat tonight. This night is over. Hopefully we can get back to do what we do, and that's start winning some baseball games."
Collins had suggested the 43-year-old Colon was the right person to be on the mound for the Mets. If anyone would have the experience to overcome emotions and pitch on this night, Collins figured it would be Colon. However, Colon allowed seven runs in 2⅓ innings as the Mets found themselves in an early 7-0 hole.
Colon had been scheduled to face Fernandez on Monday night before the tragic accident.
"I feel like it was great for them that they were able to win," Colon said through an interpreter. "You know what, though? I would have really enjoyed it if it was him who got the win over me."