ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kevin Pillar tucked a keepsake ball into his bag from his 1,000th career hit that meant even more to him than just putting the Los Angeles Angels ahead to stay in a series-clinching victory over the reigning World Series champions.
While Pillar is a California native, his parents just retired to Texas last December and were at the ballpark for Sunday’s game, even when their son wasn’t starting against the Rangers.
“Baseball’s poetic in a way that I’m here in Texas, my family lives here. My parents are here in attendance,” Pillar said after his pinch-hit two-run single in the seventh inning of a 4-1 victory. “I told them I wasn’t in the starting lineup. They still wanted to be here for me to get an opportunity, and to come up in that situation with them here, it means the world to me.”
The 35-year-old Pillar has only been with the young Los Angeles team for about three weeks. It is the ninth big league team over 12 seasons for the outfielder, who signed on April 30, the same day the Angels put three-time AL MVP Mike Trout on the injured list because of a torn meniscus in his left knee that required surgery.
Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
Internet drama about lost artifacts touches Chinese netizens
China launches new remote sensing satellite
Unfazed by danger and power, Guatemalan cardinal keeps up fight for migrants and the poor
US overdose deaths dropped in 2023, the first time since 2018
Feature: AI system developed by students helps missing children return home
Mark Pope introduced as Kentucky's men's basketball coach
NBA playoffs: Edwards leads Wolves to 98
Folk activity of intangible cultural heritage held to mark Qixi Festival
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Netflix fans go wild over 'must watch' new drama and say they 'need' a second season 'right now'