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.
Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
Nepal hosts an investment summit in hopes of attracting foreign money for hydropower projects
China opens 829 sites providing free pneumoconiosis treatment
Winter tourism promotion adds allure to travelling Tibet
Trump accepts a VP debate but wants it on Fox News. Harris has already said yes to CBS
Liang seals narrow win as WTT Champions Incheon kick off
Qualification, points system announced for Paris 2024
China's top procuratorate releases typical real
Travis Kelce downs whiskey shot on slice of bread at Kelce Jam without Taylor Swift
Chinese diplomat calls for enhancing China
College baseball notebook: Conference tournaments to decide NCAA automatic bids and many at
Housekeeper contest of boutique homestays held in Beijing's Yanqing district