Jeimer Candelario capped off a two-homer day with a two-run, bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to help the Detroit Tigers beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-3 on Thursday for a doubleheader split.
The normally stoic Molina jumped into the air after passing first base and appeared to wipe away a tear with his uniform sleeve as he approached home plate.
Born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, Molina was among players from the commonwealth who wore the number as part of Major League Baseball’s tributes this week to Clemente, who died when a plane crashed en route to a relief mission in Nicaragua on Dec. 31, 1972.
Molina put St. Louis ahead 2-0 in the second against Tarik Skubal (1-2) with his third home run this season.
With his 158th home run for St. Louis, Molina passed Johnny Mize and moved into sole possession of 10th on the Cardinals career list.
Cardinals: RHP Johan Oviedo was placed on the injured list after coming into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
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- Tigers rally for 5 runs in final inning to beat Cardinals: Game recap, box scoremlive.com
- Zimmermann returns, Candelario sparks rally to stun Cardinals, salvage doubleheader splitThe Detroit News
- BenFred: In unpredictable 2020, Cardinals offense looks all too familiarSTLtoday.com
- Cards Explode for 5 Homers in 12-2 Game 1 Victory over the TigersViva El Birdos
- Candelario lifts Tigers past Cards for doubleheader splitReuters
- Cardinals can't hold lead, fail to sweep doubleheader from TigersKSDK.com
