As he neared first base and the ball he hit cleared the wall, Yadier Molina hopped as if in celebration, and as he rounded third on his way home, he lifted the sleeve of his jersey to kiss the No. 21 patch applied there.
It was a clear tribute.
It also set an obvious trend.
Molina's homer -- hit while he wore No. 21 to celebrate Roberto Clemente Day -- was the first of five hit by five different Cardinals in their 12-2 romp against Detroit in Game 1 of the doubleheader Thursday at Busch Stadium.