DENVER _ The churn of a Major League Baseball season seemed to halt Saturday night. Padres third baseman Yangervis Solarte had lost his wife and the mother of their three young daughters because of complications related to cancer. Yuliett Pimentel Solarte was 31.
Sunday, messages of shock, sadness and support continued to pour in on social media and from all quadrants of the game. A moment of silence was observed before the Padres fell, 6-3, to the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
"What he's going through right now as a dad of three girls and losing his wife, it's tragic," Padres manager Andy Green said. "One of the best things about baseball is it's a family away from a family. The whole of Major League Baseball is a family. The Rockies called this morning and asked what they can do. I got calls and texts from coaches in other organizations. Everybody's heart breaks for him right now. There's nothing that replaces a wife and a mother. All we can do is love him and support him."
After launching a second-inning drive over the left-field fence, Padres utility man Adam Rosales sprinted around the bases, like he typically does. Then, nearing home plate, he slowed. As he crossed the dish, he performed a pronounced clap of his hands, mimicking Solarte's trademark home-run celebration.
The Padres' 1-0 lead evaporated in the fourth, when right-hander Jarred Cosart, making his return from groin and hamstring injuries, surrendered five runs. A double by Wil Myers pulled the Padres to within three runs in the sixth, but they never drew closer. The Rockies proceeded to clinch a three-game sweep.
Solarte left the team Friday to be with his wife and daughters in Florida. Yuliett passed away Saturday, before the Padres took the field in Denver.
"She fought cancer for a year, she fought it very hard," Green said. "Had the opportunity to speak to her on a couple occasions, and even with all she was going through, she was extremely gracious. She was extremely thankful for everything the organization was trying to do for her and her family.
"It's a really good family, and to know what Soley's battled through all year long to play baseball and that he's playing for his family, he's playing for his daughters' future well-being _ I'm a dad of three girls. I couldn't function without my wife."
In 101 games, Solarte, 29, is hitting .284 with a career-high 15 home runs. He missed six weeks early this season due to a hamstring injury. He missed most of another week in late July, going on emergency family medical leave.
"He's battled this all year," Green said. "I don't think people realize what players go through beyond the baseball field to keep competing. We've had four different players lose grandparents this year.
"These guys compartmentalize a person in their life that's incredibly important to them, and they go on a baseball field and they pour it out there every day. He loves doing it, he loves being with his teammates, he's had infectious energy all year long. And when you consider the circumstances of his life, that's hard to fathom."
Solarte has informed the team he would like to return before the end of this season. Though a specific date has not been decided, his daughters _ Yanliett, Yuliett and Yulianna _ would join him on the trip back across the country.
"From our perspective, baseball doesn't matter right now," Green said. "In the grand scheme of things, it's a game, and we love it because it's full of life. And he feels like he needs to be back and part of the team again. Whenever that day comes, if it comes, if he chooses a different route, we're completely fine with that as an organization. It's on him. But I think he wants to bring his daughters out. He wants to finish the season with us. Obviously life's changed dramatically for them going forward. Our thoughts, our prayers, all the support of the organization and Major League Baseball is behind them right now."
Solarte posted a photo of his wife and daughters, along with a message in Spanish, on Twitter late Saturday. Translated, the message reads: "To build a family is the most beautiful thing there is. For it to be broken in this way is difficult, but I know you will be at peace."
