NewsWeaver shuts down Sox for emotional win
Angels righty fans eight one night after losing Adenhart
By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com
04/11/09 2:30 AM ET
ANAHEIM -- Before taking the mound against the Red Sox on Friday, Jered Weaver took a moment to say a prayer in honor of his teammate Nick Adenhart, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident early Thursday. And then Weaver walked to the back of the mound and inscribed Adenhart's initials in the dirt so that he wouldn't forget his friend's presence. Weaver did his best to honor Adenhart with his performance on the mound, allowing just one unearned run over 6 2/3 innings in the Angels' emotional 6-3 win over the Red Sox on Friday. "I wanted to go out there and battle as much as possible and not think about it," said Weaver, who was set to be Adenhart's roommate on Sunday before the tragic accident. "We had to battle today, and it's just one of those things where you know he's looking down on you." Weaver was teary-eyed before his start after the Angels honored Adenhart with a video tribute and a moment of silence with Adenhart's jersey held at the mound by John Lackey and Torii Hunter. Weaver, who usually inscribes his grandparents' initials in the dirt before every start, instead decided to dedicate his start to Adenhart in the Angels' first game since his death. It's a ritual that Weaver said he wants to continue for the rest of the season, especially because the two were such close friends. He admittedly said it was tough not to think about Adenhart in between pitches, but he tried his best to focus on the Red Sox batters. "For the most part, I felt focused," said Weaver, who allowed just four hits and struck out eight batters. "But it was tough before the game with that tribute. I shed a few tears before I went out there but it was an overall team effort today." Angels manager Mike Scioscia was happy about the way Weaver handled himself on the mound despite his emotions and pressure to do well in honor of Adenhart. "I was really proud of Jered," Scioscia said. "He went out there and gave everything he had." It was a different feeling after the game, as the Angels didn't celebrate like they usually would after a big victory against the rival Red Sox. Instead they took time to remember their teammate. "We wanted to go out there and win for Nick," said Hunter, who walked out and touched the picture of Adenhart on the center field wall before the game. "We try to do that every day. But today was special. "Once we came back in here there was no music playing. We just had to think about it because it was special." The Angels relieved themselves of the early pressure by getting out to a quick lead with three runs in the second inning against Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. Chone Figgins put the Angels on the board with a run-scoring double and Howard Kendrick followed with a two-run single. Wakefield settled down after the inning and allowed just those three runs over six innings. But the right-hander did struggle with his control and walked five batters. The Angels added three insurance runs in the seventh inning against reliever Justin Masterson. Bobby Abreu led off the inning with a single, stole second, advanced on an infield single by Vladimir Guerrero and scored on a sacrifice fly by Hunter. Kendry Morales then hit a double off the right field wall and Gary Matthews Jr. was intentionally walked to load the bases but the plan backfired when Jeff Mathis hit a two-run single. The Red Sox scored two runs in the eighth on a throwing error by third baseman Figgins with rookie reliever Kevin Jepsen on the mound. But Scot Shields retired J.D. Drew to end the inning and pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save of the season. Shields was especially happy to preserve the Angels' victory because it wasn't just any other game. "We wanted that win bad," Shields said. "Once I went back out there in the ninth I wanted to shut it down. We wanted that 'W' for him and for his parents." It was just the first of 158 more regular-season games this season without Adenhart but Friday's game won't be the last time the Angels remember Adenhart. "We have to come together as a team and remember him. We have to battle as a team and get through this. It hasn't really hit home yet. "He's going to help us battle through this season."
Rhett Bollinger is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
