Tuesday was Brandon Belt’s Brett Favre game. The long-tenured Giants first baseman wasn’t sure if he’d be able to play against the Mets after learning of his grandmother’s passing hours before Tuesday night’s first pitch at Citi Field. After his father convinced him to suit up, believing his grandmother—who died from COVID Tuesday morning—would have wanted him to play, Belt went out and delivered the performance of a lifetime, contributing a season-high four hits including a pair of home runs in an 8-0 Giants victory.
“I’ve kind of been in a daze all day,” the 33-year-old admitted after the game. “I was just glad I could come out here and do that for her." Belt, who entered Tuesday in the midst of a 2-for-30 dry spell, said he’s dedicating the rest of this season to his late grandmother’s memory.
Belt’s big night spoiled the return of Mets All-Star Francisco Lindor, who took the field for the first time since mid-July following a month-long oblique injury. The Giants, winners of three straight and 12 of their last 15, peppered the Mets for four homers, bringing their season total to an MLB-best 191.
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“I couldn’t help but feel like something powerful was at play there when [Belt] hit that first home run,” said manager Gabe Kapler via Jake Seiner of the Associated Press. “He just looked locked in. And I think that’s sort of amazing given what he experienced today.”
Despite owning the league’s best record at 81-44, the Giants maintain only a 2.5-game lead over the reigning World Series Champion Dodgers in a tight NL West race.
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