Edinson Volquez on track to start Sunday
— -- NEW YORK -- The Kansas City Royals are sticking with their plan to start Edinson Volquez in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night, with the pitcher arriving in New York on Saturday after attending his father's funeral in the Dominican Republic.
Volquez left the team after pitching six innings in the series opener to attend a memorial service and funeral for his father, Daniel, who died of heart failure at age 63 shortly before Game 1. Volquez allowed three runs and received a no-decision in Kansas City's 14-inning victory. He made it to the Royals' dugout just before the start of Game 4.
"I wish [my dad] could be here right now and enjoy every game that I pitch,'' Volquez said. "And tomorrow I'm going to be thinking of my mom, and the rest of my family is going to be so happy to see me pitch. My mom told me before I got here: 'Go over there and enjoy the game like you always do and be proud. We are proud of you.'''
Although Volquez has had limited contact with the Royals over the past few days -- consisting mainly of texts with pitching coach Dave Eiland -- Royals manager Ned Yost expressed no doubts that he will be ready to go against the Mets as he tries to pitch the Kansas City Royals to their first World Series title in 30 years.
"These are huge games," Yost said. "Eddie's been with this team all year long. He's worked so hard to get to this point. And it was like Chris Young when his dad passed away. Chris just knew how proud his dad was of him and that his dad would want him to carry on. His dad would want him to be on that mound and helping his team win. And I imagine that Eddie's dad would want the same thing for Eddie."
Volquez, 32, led the Royals rotation with 13 victories, a 3.55 ERA and 200 1/3 innings pitched during the regular season. He is 1-2 with a 4.37 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in four postseason starts against Houston, Toronto and the Mets.
"I'm sure the one thing his father would want him to do is pitch Game 5,'' said Mets manager Terry Collins, whose own father died in February. "So you're challenged by that, the grief, and yet, hey, look, you know what would make him proud and make him happy, and that's to go out and do what you do best and that's to pitch.
"So I salute him because I know how hard it will be for him. Right now he's got something else to pitch for, and that's the memory of his dad. He's already tough enough."
During a memorial service in Santo Domingo this week, Volquez told reporters that he learned of his father's death from his wife and Royals general manager Dayton Moore after coming off the mound Tuesday. Volquez said his family made the correct decision when they elected not to break the news before Tuesday's start.
"If my wife told me,'' he said, "I don't even know if I'm going to be able to pitch. She decided to tell me later. And I think that was the right choice.''
Earlier this week, teammates Salvador Perez and Alcides Escobar both said Volquez was aware of what had transpired before he took the mound.
Yost said he is unconcerned about the possibility that Volquez hasn't worked out or thrown a baseball since leaving the team.
"It's not a bad thing this time of year," Yost said. "Eddie has logged over 200 innings in the regular season. It's not going to affect him a bit."
Volquez's mom relayed an important message to her son.
"He passed away,'' Volquez quoted his mom as saying, "but he was really happy to see you pitch in the big leagues, your dream.''
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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