Angels pay homage to Skaggs with an unsuccessful emotional masterpiece



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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – The Los Angeles Angels all wore Tyler Skaggs' No. 45 jersey while they stood solemnly on the ground while her mother, Debbie, delivered a heartbreaking and perfect shot with her first launch.

Three incredible hours later, the angels returned to the grounds of Ange Stadium, some with tears in their eyes. One by one, they took off these No. 45 jerseys and spread them out on the mound until almost all the dirt was covered in red.


Between these two magical and melancholy moments, the Angels played their heavy hearts in their first home game since the death of their beloved pitcher.

Their 13-0 win against the Seattle Mariners on Friday was a goalless draw by Taylor Cole and Felix Peña. Mike Trout contributed six RBIs, including a 454-foot circuit in the first pitch he saw.


The eve of what would have been Skaggs' 28th birthday, these amazing Angels played an almost perfect game, memory in the head.

"Tonight was in his honor," said Trout. "He was definitely looking at us tonight, he probably said up there that we were mean, what an amazing game to be part of the band, I'm speechless, that's the best way to honor him tonight. It was pretty crazy. "

The Angels decided last week to wear the Skaggs jersey in their first game at the Big A, but their tribute ended up exceeding all logic and reasonable expectations. Still in shock at the loss of their supporter leaving early last week in Texas, the Angels have somehow lined their tears and excelled in every aspect of the game.

"It's obviously the worst thing that can happen to a team," said Trout. "Emotionally, the team has come together." Tonight, to honor him again, he has obviously reopened the wound. (But) just to be where he liked to pitch, where he was dominating and throwing this curve that came from the sky Just to pay tribute to him once again, it was very important to me, it was just a great moment for our team to gather around the mound and pay tribute to it. new. "

The angels came out of this circle of reverence around the hillock with a more recent and happy memory of this trying time in the team's history.

Los Angeles scored seven points on eight hits in the first run. Trout crushed a 454-meter (two-meter) home run at the center left of the first pitch that he saw, and the AL's outstanding player, twice appeared, looked at the family of Skaggs in the stands while he was crossing the plate after a long unusual course. trot.


Cole also opened perfectly on the mound. The reliever hammered his chest and pointed to the sky when Kole Calhoun took the final of the second.

"I know he's here today, and he's watching us and he's definitely part of it," said Cole, a 29-year-old lifter who played his 33rd career game in the league. . "We love him, we miss him, and we will always be there for him."

Before the match, Skaggs' presence was strong in Anaheim.

His jersey was hanging in his intact clubhouse locker, his pristine boots and gloves ready for a football match. The large stereo in the center of the room is silent because the affable left-handed who controlled the musical choices of the angels is no longer there.

And on the distant wall of the clubhouse, two photos of Skaggs now accompany his competitive slogan printed in high letters: "WE" RE NASTY ".

"Honestly, that's the life of the team," said center Zack Cozart, Skaggs' teammate for the past two seasons. "We are family here.We are around each other all day, every day.You have hurt Tyler's family so much … … it's so sudden and so tragic, Forty-five will always be in my mind, that's how it's always going to be for all of us. "

The hectic pace of the baseball season forces the Angels to heal themselves while they play, and they returned to work after a dark pause during which Skaggs was honored during the match in Cleveland.

"In some ways, staying busy can sometimes help," said Angels CEO Billy Eppler. "I do not really know if it's the right way to do it, because you really have to mourn." Everyone has these moments, personal. I've had a few moments myself. But for many of us, seeing each other again is cool. "

While the Angels will eventually settle into the rhythms of the season, the presence of Skaggs will be felt throughout the stadium, from its untouched bin to the resemblance of the beloved pitcher now displayed prominently on the wall of the central ground.

A memorial created by the fans in front of the main entrance of the Big A has reached the size of a pitcher's mound. Hats, placards, baseballs and other Angels souvenirs have been delivered to the stadium by broken fans over the past 10 days. Most of the angels saw the memorial in person for the first time on their return from a tough road trip and the ensuing star game break.

"I think guys are going to get emotional again because it's still very cool," said manager Brad Ausmus. "It's good, we're human beings, there's nothing wrong with that."

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