Francisco Lindor hits emotional home run in MLB's return to Puerto Rico

Major League Baseball's appearance in Puerto Rico this week is much more than a two-game series between the Cleveland Indians and the Minnesota Twins.

The island, still recovering from the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria last September, did its best to get San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium ready for Tuesday night's opener.

With a frenzied crowd watching a scoreless game through the first four innings, it was only appropriate that one of the island's favorite sons would provide an iconic highlight.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, who was born in nearby Caguas, put Cleveland in front in a 6-1 win with a two-run homer.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Lindor became the seventh different native of Puerto Rico to hit a regular-season home run at Hiram Bithorn Stadium. 

The park was the temporary home of the Montreal Expos for 22 games during the 2003 season.

Lindor's was one of four home runs hit by the Indians in a 6-1 victory. The two teams will meet one more time in San Juan, with Jose Berrios, a native of Bayamon, set to take the mound for the Twins against Carlos Carrasco for Cleveland on Wednesday night.

Earlier in the day, Lindor visited his former elementary school with his mother and put on a clinic for children there. 

Also, Indians players donated one full playoff share from last year ($37,000) for hurricane relief in areas where Lindor and teammate Roberto Perez grew up.