Volquez pitched Game 1 unaware of father's death

Kansas City Royals starter Edinson Volquez took to the mound for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday unaware that his father had passed away earlier that day.

As word began to spread of his father's death moments before first pitch, Royals manager Ned Yost said that Volquez's wife had asked the team not to tell her husband what happened until after he finished his outing. When Yost went to the bullpen to start the seventh, Volquez joined his family in the clubhouse and was informed of his father's passing.

Yost confirmed following the Royals' 5-4 walk-off in 14 innings that Volquez did not know his father had died prior to taking the mound.

"We found out about it before the game and the wishes of the family was, you know, let Eddie pitch," Yost told reporters after the game. "So I was kind of keeping my eye, didn't want him to hear about it. I was keeping my eye on him. And he was fine. He didn't know, and I guess after the game is when he found out."

Volquez, who left without speaking to reporters, sent a text to some of his teammates following the game, thanking them for the win, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

"I didn't feel bad (not telling Volquez)," Yost said. "I love Edinson Volquez and if his family asks me to do something, I'm gonna do it."

Making his first World Series start, Volquez allowed three runs off six hits and a walk, while striking out three over six innings.

Volquez's father is the third parent of a Royals player to die in the past three months. Pitcher Chris Young, who picked up the win in relief, lost his father in September, while the mother of Mike Moustakas died in August.

Yost said that he spoke with Young prior to the game and asked him to be ready to start the opener in case Volquez found out about his father's death.

According to Yost, only coaches knew about Volquez's father before the game. Said first baseman Eric Hosmer after hearing the news: "Just another angel above looking out for us."