Just hours before Tuesday's game against the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt's grandmother, Margaret Peterson, died. Belt was struggling with whether or not to play in the game, but his family told him that his grandmother would've wanted him to play in the game -- so he did.
Belt went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs in Tuesday's 8-0 win over the Mets. Afterwards, he dedicated the game and the rest of the season to his late grandmother.
"I want to dedicate this game and the rest of the season to her," Belt said after the game. "And let everyone know that I love her so very much."
Belt had been cold as of late, with just two hits over his last 30 at-bats. However, Belt got off the snide early on as he launched a towering first inning home run to center field at Citi Field. Later in the night, Belt slugged his second home run of the game, which was his career-best 19th of the 2021 season.
According to the Associated Press, Belt's grandmother lived down the street from him growing up and provided financial assistance when Belt was pursuing his professional baseball career.
"She was always proud to brag about me to her friends," Belt added.
Giants manager Gabe Kapler expects Belt to leave the team for his grandmother's funeral services at some point this week.
"He just looked locked in," Kapler said of Belt's performance on Tuesday. "And I think that's sort of amazing given what he experienced today."
The Giants currently have an MLB-best 81-44 record and currently hold a 2.5-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
