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Aug. 25 (UPI) -- San Francisco Giants infielder Brandon Belt learned of his grandma's death hours before a game against the New York Mets. He responded to the news with two home runs in the 8-0 victory and a dedication of the season. "She didn't raise me or anything, but I think we had a really good relationship," Belt told reporters Tuesday. "She was always proud to brag about me to her friends.
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"She and my grandfather really helped me early on in my baseball career. They played a huge role in getting me where I am today. It's a tough day and it's part of life. I think I can honor her best by playing to the best of my ability for the rest of the season."
Belt went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored in Tuesday's win at Citi Field in Queens.
The veteran first baseman gave the Giants a 1-0 lead when he hit a 1-1 slider from Mets starter Tylor Megill to center field for a 431-foot solo homer.
Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski pushed the lead to 3-0 with 451-foot, two-run shot in the top of the second. Fellow outfielder LaMonte Wade swatted another two-run homer in the top of the fourth.
Belt hit his second homer in the next at-bat. The Giants first baseman hit that 2-1 fastball over the left field fence for a 369-foot solo homer.
Shortstop Brandon Crawford plated the Giants' seventh run with an RBI single three at-bats later. Belt drove in the Giants' final run with an RBI single in the top of the eighth.
"He just looked locked in," Giants manager Gabe Kapler said of Belt. "And I think that's sort of amazing given what he experienced."
Belt is now hitting .247 with a career-high 19 home runs and 40 RBIs through 71 games this season. The 2016 All-Star has homered in two of his last three games and increased his total to eight home runs in August with Tuesday's power surge.
Belt won World Series titles with the Giants in 2012 and 2014.
The Giants (81-44) own MLB's best record. They face the Mets (61-64) at 7:10 p.m. EDT Wednesday in Queens.
