Angels throw the night-sawkers to pay tribute to Skaggs



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ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels paid tribute to their late teammate Tyler Skaggs in the best possible way on Friday night. They were all wearing his No. 45 jersey on the field, playing a video montage on the giant video card, taking his mother to the pitcher's mound, and then performing one of the most impressive and inspired performances of the 2019 season.

The two pitchers, Taylor Cole and Felix Pena, teamed up for the Seattle Mariners to win 13-0 at Angel Stadium in the Angels 'first home game since Skaggs' death in his Texas hotel room. July 1st. The perfect innings to open the game and Pena has dominated in the last seven games, allowing only a quarter of a run.

They each pitched with the comfort of a massive lead, the product of a first round of seven innings that saw Mike Trout perform four races all by himself – two on a home run, then two on one. double.

After Seattle's Mallex Smith found himself on second base to end the game, the Angels took off their jerseys with the Skaggs name and number on the back and put them on the pitcher's mount.

Skaggs was a local product. In 2009, he was ranked 40th overall by the Angels. He then found his way here in 2014 after three years with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tommy John's surgery followed soon after and occasional struggles arose from time to time. But Skaggs was at his best before his death, with a 1.62 ERA in his last three starts. He was becoming the best pitcher in the rotation of the angels.

"He became the ace of the baton," said Angel broadcaster Mark Gubicza, former pitcher of the All-Star program, who forged close ties with Skaggs. "He really understood how to throw."

The Angels canceled their match on Skaggs' day of death, then continued their last six games in the first half, separating them from the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros, two teams ahead of them in the division.

When the players came back from the break from the stars on Friday, they saw the shrine built by the fans outside the main gate of the Angel Stadium, now filled with caps, candles and handwritten letters. They saw images of Skaggs everywhere, including on the wall of the central field.

They saw his locker kept in its usual location. They saw his number 45 painted behind the pitcher's mound. And they found their own No. 45 jersey hanging in their own locker.

"Tonight is for him," said Angels field player Zack Cozart. "We will do everything in our power to honor him and preserve his legacy."

Trout finally reached the base five times and made six runs. He beats .407 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in seven games since the death of one of his closest friends.

Since then, Angels General Manager Billy Eppler has seen Trout become a leader.

"His shoulders are wide because he's wearing a lot," Eppler said before the game. "This kid – or this young man – just continued to be there for everyone."

Before the match, Debbie Skaggs was visibly worried as she climbed into the elevator that would take her to the field for the heartbreaking ceremony that pays homage to her son. She was to deliver the first ceremonial toss to Andrew Heaney, his son's best friend in the team.

"I hope to make it proud," said Debbie, a long-time high school softball coach, who has inspired in many ways the love of baseball for Tyler, said from the stadium's stadium stage Angel Stadium.

She threw a perfect shot, without hesitation, then took four steps towards the edge of the mound, put her hands together and rolled her eyes.

A few minutes later, she saw Skaggs' teammates honor her in the best possible way.

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