González gets message across despite loss

DENVER -- COVID-19 played havoc with the Rockies’ roster, and forced right-handed pitcher Chi Chi González into a start -- a forgettable one in a 10-4 loss to the Dodgers on Friday night. But the issue etched on González’s heart, and written on his cap, was one of real upheaval -- yes, partly brought on by the pandemic.

González was born in Delray Beach, Fla., to parents who hail from Cuba -- Nancy Urquiaga and Jose Carlos González. His parents kept the homeland in his heart, with his mom serving true Cuban coffee out of the nail salon that she ran out of the family home. González keeps Cuba flowing by serving as the Rockies’ clubhouse barista.

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But Cuba came out from behind the scenes on Friday, when González took the mound with the Spanish phrase, “Patría Y Vida, or “My Homeland/My Life, written in silver Sharpie, to the left of the interlocking “CR” logo. Infielder Joshua Fuentes also scribed the slogan on his cap. In St. Louis, Fuentes’ cousin, former Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado, inscribed the same in dark letters on his luminous red hat. ESPN's Marly Rivera revealed the players' plan to wear the inscription in a tweet on Friday afternoon.

González would rather have had a better night -- he yielded Chris Taylor’s first-inning three-run homer, and seven runs and nine hits in four innings. But the message he wanted to convey was in keeping with this era of players using their voices as citizens of the earth and not just one-dimensional entertainers.

González, Fuentes and Arenado -- none of whom were born in the island nation but are from families that left it for a better life -- are calling attention to unrest. In more than 40 cities, protesters have taken to the streets calling for an end to a 62-year-old Communist regime in light of a deteriorating society and the lack of basics that include medical attention amid increasing numbers of coronavirus infections.

The government’s hard-line response to the protests has, in part, fueled violence since Sunday.

González recalled visiting Cuba at 7 and seeing his mother’s farmland home with a “roof made out of palm leaves and no front door.” Thinking of how both grandparents courageously left Cuba left him with a calling Friday to do his part for people fighting difficult current conditions.

“I’m from Cuban descent -- first generation -- was lucky enough to be born in the United States, but I have family in Cuba now that are speaking up against the government,” González said. “It's been an ongoing thing, with Communism and how things are going in Cuba.

“Josh Fuentes, Nolan and I spoke and we decided to do a little slogan on our hat, as was going around social media. And I just want to make people aware of what's going around the world. I feel like we're making steps forward to getting our voice out to tell the United States and telling the world what's going on.”

Fuentes entered as a replacement, went 0-for-2 and played third base while wearing the message. Both his parents were born in Cuba -- mom, Mercedes, in Guantanamo, and dad, Justo, in Matanzas.

“We weren’t born there,” Fuentes said in the dugout before the game. “We definitely feel some kind of a duty to make it not viral, but just make it known. Our parents always taught us the importance of freedom and liberty. When you see that on social media and you see what they’re going through, I think it’s important to let everyone know.

“Our game is so diverse. And we have so many types of people in this game, and a lot of Cubans -- a lot of really good Cuban baseball players. For me, it's just the least that we can do to serve the support of our countrymen, our people, but most importantly our family.”

González said he was prepared for the start, just not sharp.

“I wish I just had a better feel for the breaking pitch early on, and I'm sure that five-run [first] inning wouldn't have happened,” he said.

But performance is temporary, and so was the Rockies’ situation on Friday.

Eventually the Rockies will get past their need Friday to place four players on the injured list under MLB’s COVID and contract tracing protocols -- scheduled starter Antonio Senzatela, righty relievers Yency Almonte and Jhoulys Chacín, and outfielder Yonathan Daza. Also, the Rockies were without manager Bud Black (bench coach Mike Redmond ran the team) and first-base coach Ron Gideon.

The best part of the Rockies’ night -- C.J. Cron’s second grand slam of the season and fourth of his career, which cut the Dodgers’ early lead to 5-4 in the third -- will go down as reason to hope for a better night.

“Those five runs they got in the first -- it was not the best way to start, but then Chi Chi did a good job putting up a couple of zeros and giving us time to get back,” Cron said. “It was 5-4 -- at that point, it’s anyone’s game.”

The Rockies missed scoring chances in the first and fourth innings, and González yielded two runs in the fifth.

Through good and poor outings, González tries to do his family proud.

“I do the coffee, I guess, to keep the little culture in me going,” González said. “My mother has done that her whole life. She's just all about giving, helping others. And if it's a little bit of coffee to lighten up someone's day, that's what she'll do.

“I want to feel the same as well. You know, I want to be part of my team -- the best teammate I can be, the best father I can be, the best child -- you know, son -- I can be.”