Giants reflect on Jose Fernandez’s love for baseball and life

SAN DIEGO - Giants catcher Buster Posey absorbed two reminders in a matter of hours this weekend that sport is not immune from real-life heartbreak. On Saturday night, standing behind the plate, he expressed condolences to Padres infielder Yangervis Solarte, who batted for the first time since his wife died of cancer. On Sunday morning, Posey woke to news that Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez was killed in a boat crash. In July, Posey caught Fernandez in the All-Star Game in the same ballpark where Posey had to absorb the news of the pitcher's death. "For me, it's hard to talk about how he will be missed in baseball because I can't imagine what his family is feeling right now," Posey said. "Twenty years old, and I remember how grateful he was to be on that club, how excited and proud," Bochy said. In 2013, outfielder Gorkys Hernandez and Fernandez were teammates with the Marlins, before Fernandez's rookie season. Pitcher Matt Moore saw Fernandez across the field during Marlins-Rays interleague games and appreciated the kid's joie de vivre as much as that plus-plus slider. [...] there was the stuff that shot out of Fernandez's right arm. Posey saw it when he caught a perfect sixth inning in the 2013 All-Star Game and again in this year's game. Fernandez relieved Johnny Cueto in the second inning and allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings.