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ST. LOUIS -- Two days after losing his childhood friend, Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, in a boating accident, Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz hit the first grand slam of his career Tuesday in his teams crucial 12-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.Its amazing, you know, Diaz said. To come back and hit that grand slam, I cant explain that. Im very grateful.After getting the ritual splash of water to the face from Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez, Diaz emerged to acknowledge a curtain call from the relatively small crowd -- announced as 34,286 -- at Busch Stadium that nonetheless was roaring its approval. Diaz doffed his batting helmet, then jabbed it at the sky and looked up at the stars.Every time I put on a uniform, I want to think of him and the way he played baseball. He gave everything every day, Diaz said. I think thats his legacy for every MLB player, especially for the Cuban players. He was living the American dream. He made it, so every time I come here to this clubhouse and put on the uniform, I want to think of him.The Cardinals trail the New York Mets by 1? games for the first wild card and the Giants by one game for the second.?Diaz, 25, grew up just a few houses down from Fernandez in Santa Clara, Cuba. Fernandez defected to the United States when he was 15, eight years before Diaz left the island in 2014.Diaz spent Monday back in Florida with his family and Fernandezs mother and grandmother. Fernandez told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in 2015 that Diazs father, Rigoberto, was the reason he became a baseball player.The Cardinals were hesitant to use Diaz in the preceding games, in part due to his grief. He was due to pinch hit in Sunday nights game in Chicago but never got the chance because Aroldis Chapman struck out Jose Martinez?and stranded?Diaz in the on-deck circle as the game ended.Tuesdays blast off Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson came in Diazs second at-bat since Fernandezs death. Diaz said he feels he can best honor Fernandez by playing the game with passion and joy and competing as fiercely as Fernandez did.Even now, I cant believe it, Diaz said.Stephenson was aware of Diazs relationship with Fernandez.I thought that was real unfortunate timing for me, Stephenson said. But really, a special moment for him.Watching him cross the plate and watching his reaction as he [shook hands] with the guys, [it] really hit me on how much that meant to him, St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. You can never understand what each persons going through when they suffer a loss like that. The show goes on, and so does life. But its a tough thing for anyone to go through.Diaz and Cardinals catcher Brayan Pena, a fellow Cuban, taped a No. 16 Fernandez jersey to the Cardinals dugout wall before the game. Pena predicted Diaz would hit a home run in Tuesdays game. Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright compared it to Mondays home run by Marlins leadoff batter Dee Gordon, who cried after going deep against Bartolo Colon in the teams first game since Fernandezs death.I felt some serious goose bumps when he hit that, you know, Wainwright said. I almost got choked up. I know he was and we were all excited for him, and he wanted to make some good swings for Jose, Im sure. I dont know if theres a spot all year we needed that more than we did tonight.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Willie Cauley-Stein Warriors Jersey . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. 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On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. PITTSBURGH -- DeAngelo Williams isnt obsessed with his numbers. The Pittsburgh Steelers running back isnt really keeping track of them anyway, though if hes being honest hes getting a little tired of his age coming up in nearly every conversation.Yes, Williams is aware hes 33, a time when backs are either retired or rapidly heading in that direction one carry at a time. And yet there Williams was, churning out a career-high 32 carries for 94 yards and adding four receptions for another 38 and a touchdown in a 24-16 win over the Bengals on Sunday.Somebody said in the locker room, `Youre either old or you are good, which one are you? Williams said. And I was like, `I dont know.By all accounts, Williams seems to be both.While the yards didnt come as easily in the rain at Heinz Field as they did last Monday in a romp over Washington, it hardly mattered. Williams found enough room to keep the chains moving, the Cincinnati offense off the field, and the Steelers unbeaten. Who cares if his yards per carry (a modest 2.9) wont exactly have fantasy football owners rubbing their hands with glee?Last Williams checked, he dealt in reality. And the reality is Williams is doing more than serving as a caretaker while LeVeon Bell serves his three-game suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse policy. He is thriving.Ill take a 3.0 (average) in a win any day as opposed to a 7.0 in a loss, Williams said.Williams also went over 10,000 yards from scrimmage on his career, the 13th active player to reach that plateau. Pardon him, however, if he doesnt get too worked up over it.Its yards man, he said. I am hunting one thing and one thing only, and its a Super Bowl. The 10,000 yards up until this point havent translated into a Super Bowl, so it means nothing to me.Maybe, but the 132 combined yards he piled up against Cincinnati meant plenty to the Steelers. It kept Pittsburgh afloat on a day quarterbaack Ben Roethlisberger wasnt his normally crisp self.ddddddddddddIt also served notice that while the years next to Williams name are climbing, the miles still remain relatively low.Williams is well aware one of the reasons hes still around is thanks to his nine seasons in Carolina, where he split carries with teammates, namely Jonathan Stewart. It worked for the Panthers. Theres every reason to think it may work for the Steelers when Bell returns in Week 4. Just dont expect Williams to start clamoring for it.Sure Williams believes hes good at his job. Its just that Bell is probably better.The thing I wanted to do when I got here, is when Bell went off the field, not to take any pressure off the defense, Williams said. But Bell is so dynamic when he plays the game I dont want him to come off the field.They do provide a study in contrast. While Bell will patiently wait for the blocks ahead of him to develop -- even occasionally placing one of his hands on the back of a lineman -- Williams takes a more direct approach. Whenever he met with resistance on Sunday, he lowered his head or his shoulders (or both) and tried to make room on his own.Hes also made an impact in the passing game. His touchdown grab on Sunday was his first since 2013, but also his 10th reception of the season. In 18 games with the Steelers Williams already has 50 catches. Thats nearly as many as he had from 2011-14 combined.Williams will get one more chance next week in Philadelphia before Bells familiar No. 26 is cleared to return. And Williams will cede the spot atop the depth chart to one of the leagues most versatile players. Hell still be plenty ready, however, when called on. Just like always.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '