Sat, Apr 11, 2009 page19

• Pitcher’s death shocks baseball

  ‘ANGEL IN HEAVEN’: Soon after pitching six scoreless innings on Wednesday, LA pitcher Nick Adenhart was killed when a minivan sideswiped the car he was in

  • NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE
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  AMERICAN LEAGUE

  Only a few hours after the most promising performance of his major league career, Nick Adenhart, a 22-year-old pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, was one of three people killed early on Thursday when the car they were traveling in was struck by a vehicle driven by a suspected drunken driver.

  Adenhart was a passenger in a Mitsubishi Eclipse that was broadsided by a minivan whose driver had run a red light, the police said. The crash occurred about 8km from Angel Stadium in Fullerton, about 40km south of Los Angeles.

  

  New York Yankees coaches Dave Eiland, left, and Tony Pena pause for a moment of silence for Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart before a baseball game at Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday.

  PHOTO: AP

  The Angels postponed their scheduled game on Thursday night with the Oakland Athletics.

  “It is a tragedy that will never be forgotten,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said.

  Major League Baseball called for a moment of silence before every game on Thursday. Late on Thursday, the Angels had not announced plans for an observance before their home game on Friday night with the Boston Red Sox. Players met with coaches at 3pm, then left the stadium without speaking to reporters.

  Adenhart, a right-hander, pitched six scoreless innings against the Athletics on Wednesday night, giving up seven hits and three walks but working out of several tight situations. After the game, Adenhart told reporters he felt “just a lot more relaxed, self-confident.”

  Adenhart’s father, Jim, watched his son pitch in his fourth major league appearance and first since May last year, when he had three rocky outings.

  Scott Boras, Adenhart’s agent, said Adenhart called his father in Maryland on Tuesday and asked him to fly to California.

  “He summoned his father the day before and he said, ‘You better come here because something special’s going to happen,’” Boras said.

  Boras said that he and Jim Adenhart spoke with Nick Adenhart after the game and that the pitcher was “elated” with his performance.

  “He felt like a major leaguer,” Boras said, choking back tears.

  Adenhart, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, was considered the top pitching prospect in the Angels organization.

  He had a strong spring, but he might have opened the season with the club’s Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City had not the veteran pitchers John Lackey and Ervin Santana sustained injuries.

  At a news conference at Angel Stadium on Thursday, Kevin Hamilton, a lieutenant with the Fullerton Police Department, identified the driver of the minivan as Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, California.

  Hamilton said the police believe Gallo was “driving under the influence” and had a previous arrest on that charge. Hamilton said Gallo might also have been driving with a suspended license.

  Hamilton said Gallo would be booked on charges of felony hit and run, felony driving under the influence, vehicular manslaughter and could “potentially be booked for murder.”

  Gallo will be arraigned on Monday, Hamilton said.

  Also killed in the crash were Courtney Frances Stewart, 20, of Diamond Bar, California, who the police said was driving the Mitsubishi, and Henry Pearson. The fourth person inside the Mitsubishi, Jon Wilhite, was hospitalized, as was an unidentified passenger in the minivan.

  Tony Reagins, general manager of the Angels, said Adenhart had matured rapidly since joining the organization: “Nick was an outstanding player but also a tremendous person.”

  “Many phone calls to our players and coaches, the fact of disbelief is just prevalent. We all are in shock,” he said. “Obviously, watching him last night when he did so well, such a bright future, such a bright kid. We will miss him.”

  Darren O’Day, a pitcher with the Mets, spent most of last year’s season with Adenhart in Salt Lake City, where they became close friends.

  “Last year he had all the talent in the world but couldn’t figure it out,” O’Day said. “Then he figures it out and six hours later he’s gone.”

  Angels fans gathered at the crash site and in front of the stadium, where flowers, pennants, jerseys and the club’s signature rally monkey dolls were piled atop a brick pitching mound on the expansive patio. One poster read, “#34 One More Angel in Heaven.”

  Adenhart’s death is the latest episode in the history of a franchise with more than its share of tragedy.

  Lyman Bostock, a star outfielder, was shot to death on Sept. 23, 1978, in Gary, Indiana, after a game with the White Sox.

  Donnie Moore, the relief pitcher who never got over surrendering the home run that cost the Angels a chance at the 1986 Amer ican League pennant, shot himself to death in 1989 after seriously wounding his wife.

  In AL games on Thursday:

  • Rangers 12, Indians 8

  • Yankees 11, Orioles 2

  • Rays 4, Red Sox 3

  • Royals 2, White Sox 1

  • Blue Jays 6, Tigers 2

  • Mariners 2, Twins 0

  In the NL it was:

  • Giants 7, Brewers 1

  • Cardinals 2, Pirates 1

  • Reds 8, Mets 6
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