Almora Jr. dedicated game-saving catch to mother on her birthday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Albert Almora Jr. made quite the impression during his first game of the season Tuesday with a spectacular game-saving catch over the center-field wall that robbed Matt Adams of a seventh-inning home run.

His feat preserved a 2-1 lead for the defending World Series champions, who defeated the division-rival Cardinals by the same score. It was also special to Almora Jr. for another reason.

Related: Almora Jr. robs Cardinals of game-tying home run

The young outfielder dedicated the catch to his mother, Ana, for her birthday, which was Monday.

"I told her, 'I didn’t hit you one, but I robbed you one,'" Almora explained to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune after the game. "She thought it was funny and loved it."

After making the play, the 22-year-old got a gift of his own: the hardest high five he had ever received, courtesy of teammate Koji Uehara, who delivered the pitch to Adams.