MIAMI -- The thoughts running through?Dee Gordons head after his first home run of the season ranged from hurried to confusion Monday night. The Miami Marlins?second baseman created one of the memorable sports moments of 2016 as he fought back tears on his way to home plate.It seemed like it took forever, Gordon said of rounding the bases. I was just trying to go back to my teammates as fast as possible, and I couldnt get there. I was just wondering why [Jose Fernandez] wasnt on the top of the steps cheering for me.This wasnt just any at-bat for Gordon. This was the first plate appearance for the Marlins organization after the passing of Fernandez, the superstar pitcher who died Sunday in a boating accident. That was something Gordon took very seriously.The left-handed Gordon came up with a plan to step to the plate and take a pitch right-handed while wearing a helmet in his size with Fernandezs No. 16 on it. Gordon then switched helmets and went to his usual left-handed stance, and his first swing was a monster shot to right field off New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon. That?sparked the Marlins to a 7-3 win.Gordon said hitting a home run -- his first of the season -- never crossed his mind.But what made Gordons leadoff home run even more miraculous is the fact that hes far from a power hitter. It took Gordon 304 at-bats this season to hit his first one out of the ballpark. For his career, Gordon is averaging one home run every 239.2 at-bats. But there was something special about this moment for Gordon on a night dedicated to Fernandez.There havent been many smiles from the Marlins the past two days. But Gordon was able to share a rare smile after his homer with teammate Giancarlo Stanton, who usually is the Marlins player delivering long-distance bombs.Pure emotion -- theres no other way it could be scripted, Stanton said of Gordons homer. Theres no other way that, unless youre in a movie rewriting everything that just happened tonight, I couldnt believe it. I just put my hands up and celebrated.It was a banner night overall for Gordon, who went 4-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs and a stolen base. Gordon had an RIP shirt made in honor of Fernandez and wore it under his jersey, which was another way for Gordon to keep Fernandez close during the game.It was only right for me to put it on, Gordon said. I know I wasnt supposed to wear it for batting practice, but thats a fine Im willing to take.Marlins president David Samson said before the game that the entire locker room will struggle to reset their equilibrium after Fernandezs death. Mondays win over the Mets was a small step in what will be a long healing process.Led by Gordons homer, Mondays performance was a fitting way for Marlins players to offer a tribute to their teammate who is gone way too soon. This might be the final time you see any Marlins player wear Fernandezs No. 16, especially if the boss -- owner Jeffrey Loria -- has his say.Nobody is going to wear [No. 16] -- I can tell you that now, Loria said. Nobody will wear that number again.If this was the last time we see a No. 16 jersey on the field for the Marlins, Gordon and the rest of Fernandezs teammates made sure it was represented in the best light possible. Wade Boggs Jersey . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Xander Bogaerts Red Sox Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. http://www.officialredsoxfanstore.com/authentic-roger-clemens-red-sox-jersey/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. J. D. Martinez Red Sox Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Jimmie Foxx Red Sox Jersey . Following a lopsided 5-2 loss against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night, Paul MacLean told reporters that "theres a lack of focus, theres a lack of leadership and theres a lack of preparation" with his struggling team. That came on the heels of Bryan Murray taking the unusual step of going into the locker room at the Prudential Center and addressing the players himself. Neither Keith Desormeaux nor Bob Baffert was on the scene at Monmouth Park last Sunday when Exaggerator beat American Freedom in the Haskell Invitational. Del Mar is a hard place to leave in the summer -- all that beach traffic -- and besides, its the horses who do the real work.I was back there all the week before, said Desormeaux, referring to Saratoga, where Exaggerator trained for the Haskell. Why didnt I go back? Im lazy.Right, and hes also got a full barn at Del Mar that trains from sunrise to track closing every day, and being where he can see and touch his horses helps Desormeaux sleep at night. Julie Clark, the trainers assistant and significant other, did the honors in New Jersey.As for Baffert, he had assistant Jim Barnes on the job at Monmouth, which has worked just fine in the past. Anyway, cross-country air travel with a quick turnaround isnt exactly high among Bafferts lifestyle priorities these days, especially after his heart attack in Dubai four years ago.Still, watching from afar is no guarantee of immunity. Planted in view of a Del Mar big screen, Baffert saw Rafael Bejarano ride American Freedom to a very game second to Exaggerator and Kent Desormeaux, after which he hustled off to saddle American Pharoahs little sister, American Cleopatra, in Del Mars third race (she won). On his way back to the box, Baffert was accosted, as he often is, by someone with something on his mind.What do you think, Bob? came the question. Did they get it right?What are you talking about? Baffert replied.The inquiry. With your horse.I didnt even know there was one, Baffert said a couple of days later. My first thought was, Oh, no, dont take second away from me. When I saw it was my rider claiming against the winner, I could see there was nothing there. I told the jock later he shouldnt have wasted one. You need to save those for when youve got a shot.Keith Desormeaux didnt see anything either because there really wasnt much to see in terms of an objection, unless it was the dollar signs disappearing from the thought bubble over Bejaranos head as Exaggerator blew past him inside the eighth pole. At that point, Exaggerators trainer was still chuckling at his own Hamlet moment that could have sent history in a whole different direction.I can show you the text to Elliott Walden the night before the entries, Desormeaux said, referring to the general manager of WinStar Farm, where Exaggerator will stand.The way to win the Travers is to train at Saratoga and run in the Jim Dandy, so what am I doing going to the Haskell? Desormeaux said,, reciting the substance of the message.dddddddddddd Then, when I saw the race on paper and the way the pace laid out, I knew I was going to the right place. That and $400,000 more in the purse, plus a Win and Youre In to the Breeders Cup. Actually, it was kind of a no-brainer.The contortions required for Desormeaux to come up with his no-brainer tell you a lot about the guy. Hell chew on every detail until theres nothing left but gristle and bone. What to do with Exaggerator -- the Santa Anita Derby and Preakness winner -- after his dismal effort in the Belmont Stakes was a question he was asked often. And in the modern world of constant communication and fitful transparency, he was required to deliver an answer, even if he didnt have one.There was a time trainers didnt say much at all, Desormeaux noted. And nobody asked.Bill Mott once was asked to name the toughest part of his job.Saying no, he replied.This is easy to understand, given the relentlessly forward momentum of racing, the pressure from heavily invested patrons, and the required participation of four-legged creatures who dont always get with the program.At some point, though, a trainer must say yes. Decisions come easier to trainers who have talented 3-year-olds in January. The path is preordained, with a few variations along the way but all leading toward the same set of Triple Crown goals.Once the Belmont is in the books, all bets are off. The goals become a little more hazy. Haskell, Travers, Gold Cup, Breeders Cup: Theyre all in the mix, along with the very real option of putting a hard-used young horse away for a few recuperative months and bringing him back as a more mature 4-year-old.Desormeaux has been faced with such decisions when it comes to Exaggerator. When he said the Curlin colt was heading for the Travers through the Jim Dandy, his word was taken for gospel. When he changed his mind, the media -- both social and otherwise -- were flummoxed. They did not have a good line on this Desormeaux fellow yet, and here he was changing races in midstream. He said he did not like the way his horse was training at Saratoga, where he won the Saratoga Special the year before, and yet he said his horse was doing well physically and could simply train up to the Travers. Or not. He might as well have been speaking Esperanto.I know, Desormeaux said. Sometimes it takes a little time to figure things out.And this time, it was worth the wait. ' ' '