RAW EMOTION

With HR

Then the Marlins took a knee around the mound, some scrawling in the dirt Fernandez’s number and initials. “May you rest with God” was also written in the red clay before the Marlins gathered beside the mound.

After the game, several Mets stayed in the dugout to watch the Marlins gather again around the mound. Mattingly kissed the ground, later saying it was his way of saying goodbye, before placing his hat on the mound and departing. Each Marlins player left his hat on the mound before departing the field.

“The entire industry is going through a loss. Certainly he belonged to the Marlins, but he belonged to baseball,” Collins said. “We are all devastated by the news and the tragedy, but you know I have seen a lot, read a lot and heard a lot, and he epitomized what the game is about. He loved it. He played the game the correct way . ... Our game is bigger than a lot of things, it will always go on. We’ll remember Jose, but I think you have to play the game in his honor and realize that he would want to be out there.” ernandez would have definitely wanted to be out there, hugging Gordon after his trot around the bases. Celebrating and cheering his teammate. Gordon wore a T-Shirt with Fernedez’s picture and R.I.P. on it for batting practice. The emotional home run almost seemed surreal. There were tears when he crossed home plate, there were hugs and sadness, but there was baseball again. There had to be.

F@BobSiattta

Dee Gordon points to the sky during his four-hit game a day after his pal, Jose Fernandez (r.), is killed in boating accident. Gordon leads off game with long home run and sobs rounding the bases on night shaken players on both teams lean on each other...