Word came to the Royals on Tuesday afternoon that scheduled World Series Game 1 starter Edinson Volquez’s father, Daniel, had died at 63 from complications of heart disease.
But it was attached to a request by the family.
“ ‘Don’t tell Eddie; let him go out and pitch Game 1 of the World Series,’ ” was how it came to Royals manager Ned Yost.
It was a sad and awkward situation, but Yost was intent on honoring the family’s wishes even as he worried word might get to Volquez.
And even as he watched Volquez pitch six innings of stalwart baseball that enabled the Royals to stay in a berserk game they’d eventually win 5-4 in 14 innings, Yost kept anguishing over what was coming next.