Royals' Volquez leaves team for father's funeral in Dominican

Oct 27, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez (36) walks back to the dugout after retiring the New York Mets in the fourth inning in game one of the 2015 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez, whose father died shortly before he started Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night, returned home to the Dominican Republic on Wednesday to attend the funeral and spend time with his family.

Volquez plans to rejoin the team when it heads to New York later in the week.

Daniel Volquez, 63, died of heart failure earlier Tuesday. It was the elder Volquez who introduced his son to the game, even purchasing the boy his first glove.

"I can definitely understand what he's going through right now," said Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, whose mother Connie died of cancer in August. "When someone loses a family member, that takes priority over everything that happens. Baseball is baseball, but family, things that happen like that -- that's something that is more important than baseball."

Royals pitcher Chris Young's father, Charles, also died of cancer last month.

"For all the stuff that's happened this year to all of our parents, and a couple other people that have had some bad luck with their families, it has to bring us closer together," Moustakas said. "This is our family."

DRY WEATHER FORECAST

There is no threat of rain putting a damper on Game 2 of the World Series.

The misty front that washed through before the Royals beat the Mets in the series opener is long gone, and a breezy, sun-splashed afternoon greeted fans tailgating at Kauffman Stadium.

Country music singer Sara Evans is scheduled to perform the national anthem, while a trio of Medal of Honor recipients will throw out ceremonial first pitches. "God Bless America" will be performed by Michelle Doolittle of the U.S. Air Force during the seventh-inning stretch.

The Royals will be trying to take a 2-0 lead to New York on Wednesday night. They beat the Mets 5-4 in 14 innings in Game 1, matching the longest game in World Series history.