Watch: Reds pitcher hits HR in 1st game after father's death
What an incredible moment for @Lorenzen55. 🙏https://t.co/3us9hnJ1YV
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 20, 2016
Cincinnati Reds right-handed reliever Michael Lorenzen knew his return to the mound following his father's unexpected death Wednesday would be emotional, but the 24-year-old could never imagine what would take place Friday night.
Stepping to the plate with two on in the bottom of the seventh inning, Lorenzen drove a ball over the right-field wall for the first home run of his major-league career.
Lorenzen couldn't hold back the tears as he rounded the bases and crossed home plate pointing to the sky. He emerged from the dugout for a curtain call as the fans at Great American Ballpark cheered.
"Everything that happened tonight I don't think I'll ever feel that way again," Lorenzen told Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "My family needed that. Definitely everything happens for a reason. ... It's something special not only for me, but for my family."
Lorenzen entered the game 9-for-39 (.231) for his career. He had never homered at the minor-league level either.
"I never thought I would see something like that," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "As emotional as that moment. ... divine intervention for sure"
In addition to the home run, Lorenzen also tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief.