Cardinals observe 'Oscar Taveras Day' on 1-year anniversary of MLB debut
The St. Louis Cardinals paid tribute Sunday to the late Oscar Taveras with a pregame ceremony on the one-year anniversary of his major-league debut.
The highly touted rookie, batting sixth and playing right field last May 31, homered in his second career at-bat with a 418-foot blast off San Francisco's Yusmeiro Petit in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. Taveras's dramatic homer and standing ovation at Busch Stadium was one of the most memorable highlights of the 2014 season.
The Cardinals honored that game under deeply unfortunate circumstances after Taveras and his girlfriend were killed in a car accident in the Dominican Republic on Oct. 26, 2014. The team announced May 31 will be observed as "Oscar Taveras Day."
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez, who said he's pitching for his late friend this season and wears his No. 18, started Sunday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Following his sixth-inning strikeout of Howie Kendrick, catcher Yadier Molina gave Taveras's family the ball.
Martinez (5-2) earned the victory with seven scoreless innings in the Cardinals' 3-1 win.