Angels show the heart of Champions

By TheNaturalMevs on April 11, 2009

If the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim don’t win another game this season, last night spoke volumes of the type of characters that this team is comprised of. Jered Weaver went out and threw one of the best games of his life with the pressure of doing it in the wake of the death of a fallen teammate. Weaver got the win against the Red Sox, striking out 8 hitters and willing Anaheim to a victory in front of an emotional crowd.

“It was one of the toughest I’ve had to get through,” said Weaver, who allowed only an unearned run in 6 2/3 innings. “It still really hasn’t hit home yet. I shed a couple tears before I went over there.”

Weaver usually traces his grandparents initials behind the mound prior to each start but on this night he traced Nick Adenhart’s initials.

The right-hander tipped his cap as he left to a standing ovation after facing two batters in the seventh. Nearing the dugout, he pointed his right index finger to the sky.

The rookie’s No. 34 was painted in red on the back slope of the mound. A black-and-white photo of him in mid-toss was on the center-field wall next to his name and number in a black circle.

As the Angels won the game 6 to 3, you get the feeling that this is a team just made closer by the loss of a 22 year old fixture in their clubhouse. As ironic as it is, this is the kind of thing that could send the Angels on a season long rally. It is unspoken but a long time fan of this game can see it. This team will never give up and never back down. They’ll have a chip on their shoulder until the final out of every game. It’s hard to do anything but smile and root for the Angels right now.