The Baseball Gods were watching this one.
An emotional evening in Anaheim on Friday turned into one of the best moments of the 2019 Major League baseball season.
The Los Angeles Angels returned to their home ballpark for the first time since the death of their teammate, left-handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs, earlier in July. Before the game, Skagg's mother, Debbie, threw out the first pitch — a perfect strike — before embracing Angels players and coaches.
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The game started off well for Los Angeles, when Mike Trout rocked a monstrous home run to center field to give the team a 2-0 first inning lead over the Seattle Mariners. But it was the pitching that seized the day for Los Angeles, who won the game in resounding fashin, 13-0.
Angels manager Brad Ausmus used the opener strategy during Friday's game. Right-hander Taylor Cole took the mound first, paying tribute to Skaggs before he tossed two clean innings.
He was then followed by right-hander Felix Peña, who finished off the combined no-hitter, while striking out six batters in seven innings. The two pitchers were one walk shy of a combined perfect game. After the final out, the Angels, who were all wearing Skaggs' no. 45, left their jerseys on the mound.
While there is no doubt the franchise would rather have Skaggs with them, it's tough to think of a better on-field way to honor his memory.
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