KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Edinson Volquez strode purposefully to the mound for Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night, apparently unaware his father had passed away hours earlier in the Dominican Republic.

The right-hander with the easy smile proceeded to hold the New York Mets at bay for six gritty innings, departing with the game still tied.

It was only after he left, Royals manager Ned Yost said, that Volquez learned his 63-year-old father, Daniel Volquez died earlier in the day from heart failure.

“It was just, you know, it was sad, a sad situation,” Yost said. “You find out an hour before the game that your starting pitcher’s father passed away, and it was hard. But again, you wanted to honor the family’s wishes, and they requested, `Don’t tell Eddie. Let him go out and pitch Game 1 of the World Series.”’

Volquez left the clubhouse with his family by the time reporters were allowed in after the game.