Stephen Cardullo threw himself a 29th birthday bash in grand (slam) fashion

Whether a child or adult, we all hope to have enjoyable birthdays. Maybe they'll involve a gathering of friends, loved ones, and/or pizza. Pizza is a plus, definitely. 
Rockies rookie Stephen Cardullo, fresh off his first career base hit, turned 29 on Wednesday. He decided to throw himself a rather noteworthy party in the club's doubleheader against the Dodgers at Coors Field. 
In Game 1, won by the Rockies, 7-0, Cardullo came off the bench and launched his first career homer in the eighth inning. That's a great moment. But Cardullo, who spent four seasons in independent baseball before the Rockies gave him a chance with a callup earlier this week, had even bigger plans for his 29th year on Earth. 
Facing Bud Norris in the first inning of Game 2, which the Dodgers ultimately won, 10-8, Cardullo stepped up and swatted his first-ever grand slam. Here are both of those, because such a feat warrants a double highlight:

Cardullo talked about his special day with MLB.com's Ben Weinrib: 
"What a special feeling. I definitely think it was probably my first homer on my birthday, and for it to be my first Major League home run on my birthday, it's a special feeling."
Cardullo's is the second story of resilience involved in this week's Dodgers-Rockies series, as Dodgers utility man Rob Segedin, who also spent many years making his way up to the big leagues, hit his first career homer last week ... on the same day his wife went into labor. 
Said Cardullo of his journey to where he is today:
"I always had that hope where if I continued to work hard and get better, if I had a good season, maybe I'd get an opportunity and things could happen. Deep down I always had that drive and that hope and heart that I could reach my goal."
Moral of the story: Never give up.