For Belt, ‘something higher at play there’
First baseman homers twice in 1st game since grandma’s death
GIANTS 8, METS 0
NEW YORK — Brandon Belt spoke in hushed tones. He reflected on his family, his life, his youth. Despite playing one of his finest games of the season, his mind was on something other than his four-hit, two-homer performance in the Giants’ 8-0 win over the Mets.
On Tuesday morning, hours before Belt homered as the second batter of the game, his grandmother, an inspirational figure throughout his life and career, died.
As an organization, the Giants fully would have embraced Belt taking the day off. And would be fine if Belt left the team once the service is planned. But after communicating with his wife and parents, he decided to play right away. His father told him his grandmother would have wanted him to perform the best he could.
So he played. And homered in his first at-bat. And third at-bat. And singled in between. And singled again in his final at-bat, driving in a run.
“I really wanted to do that today for her … let her know that I appreciate everything and that … you know … I love her,” said Belt, who took questions from beat writers after the game.
Margaret Peterson, Belt’s maternal grandmother, had contracted COVID, and he said the family felt confident
she would pull through. He received the news of her death in the morning and didn't take long to decide he was dedicating the rest of the season to her.
Starting Tuesday.
“She was a huge supporter of mine,” Belt said, “so this really does mean a lot.”
Belt grew up in Texas, and his grandparents lived nearby. In fact, when it became clear in high school he had a gift for the game, they helped fund showcases. He was able to show his stuff on prominent stages and wound up playing at the University of Texas and getting drafted by the Giants in the fifth round in 2009.
“She didn't raise me or anything, but we had a really good relationship,” Belt said, “and she was always proud to brag about me to her friends. She and my grandfather really helped me early in my baseball career. … They played a huge role in getting me where I am today.”
Belt said her grandmother was so proud of him that she had him sign baseball cards so she could distribute them to her friends at her church and assisted-living facility.
Hours before the game, Belt walked onto the field in shorts and a T-shirt while his teammates were engaged in infield practice and batting practice. At one point, Belt and manager Gabe Kapler were seen hugging. Belt made a point not to tell many people. The starting pitcher, Sammy Long, didn't know. That's how Belt is, though, a largely private person.
Yet, in his first at-bat, he let it all out. His home run landed on the apple beyond the center-field wall, which rises when a Mets hitter homers. The fruit stood still as the Giants homered four times; Mike Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. also went deep.
“It was a pretty emotional at-bat,” Belt said. “It was pretty emotional the whole game. It's just one of those things where I just had to stop and be by myself for a little bit and just kind of take it all in and know there was something higher at play there.”
Kapler added, “I couldn't help but feel something powerful was at play there when he hit that first home run.”
During the game, catcher Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford, the only current players other than Belt who played in the team's championship era, exited with physical woes. Posey had discomfort in his left knee, Crawford lower back tightness.
Kapler sounded more encouraged about Crawford — who felt it before the game as well as running and making a throw in the game — returning Wednesday. Posey reported feeling better after the game.
It wasn't a good sign for two key players on the majors' best team to develop knee and back issues in the opener of a stretch of playing on 16 consecutive days, the team's longest run of the season without a break.
For Belt, his only focus was playing a game for his grandmother and honoring her the best way he knows how. With two swings, he matched his career high in homers and set a career high, 19.
“Things I'm going to miss,” Belt said, “are just going to her house with our whole family during the holidays, just spending time with her in general.”