DETROIT -- After homering on Mother's Day, Steven Souza Jr. said he had to make sure his dad got some love on his special day, too.
Souza hit his first career grand slam to lead Tampa Bay to a 9-1 win over the Tigers on Father's Day. When he returned to the dugout, he walked up to the camera to wish his dad a happy Father's Day, and tell his 6-month-old son Micah that he loves him.
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"It's a cool day," Souza said. "Hit a home run on Mother's Day for my mom, and today, Father's Day for my dad and my son. It's a really special thing."
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When asked about Souza's timely holiday homers, Rays manager Kevin Cash joked, "He must really love his mom and dad quite a bit."
The grand slam came at a good time for the Rays, too. Tampa Bay led 3-1 with one out and the bases loaded in the third when Souza stepped in the batter's box with a chance to break the game open. Tigers starter Buck Farmer grooved a 2-2 slider over the heart of the plate and Souza barreled it over the wall in left-center with a 105.6 mph exit velocity, according to Statcast™.
In a game during which the Rays hit five home runs, Souza's grand slam stood out. He celebrated with his teammates, helping end their six-game road trip on a positive note. But now, he looks forward to heading home and sharing the moment with his family.
"I can't wait," Souza said. "I saw them this morning on FaceTime, but yeah. I'm looking forward to just getting back and holding [Micah] in my arms and telling him I love him."