Anaheim was hot and dry. Then, on Sunday night, it poured down. The surface water on the Angel Stadium outfield was “ankle deep”. The Angels had to fit in two games on Monday against the Red Sox. The solution? They called 911.
So desperate were the Angels to make sure the games went ahead, they enlisted an American Eurocopter AS350 from the City of Anaheim police department to solve the problem. The chopper came and joined the fun inside the stadium, hovering mere inches over the lovingly manicured outfield, using the downwash from the rotors to blast away the remaining moisture.
Observe:
Pulling out all the stops to prepare the field for today's doubleheader #AtTheBigA. pic.twitter.com/dv3yoLSXZ7
— Angels (@Angels) July 20, 2015
Summer rain is rare in southern California, and the outfield grass generally can’t absorb as much water as fell on Sunday night, said Tim Mead, the Angels’ vice-president of communications. That downpour caused the postponement of the Angels-Red Sox game on Sunday, hence Monday’s double header. Grounds crew employees spent hours trying to mop the water off the field on Sunday night, but the rain never stopped.
The Angels insisted the helicopter was all worthwhile.
“It scatters and does help dry, with the power,” said Mead.
The team’s last rainout came way back in June 1995, so Monday’s solution was, shall we say, novel. But it didn’t faze Angels manager Mike Scioscia: he’s seen some stuff.
“We played a Babe Ruth state championship game in Pennsylvania, and when it stopped raining, all of a sudden some fire trucks came, guys came out and poured gasoline on the basepaths and lit them on fire, and we played about 40 minutes later,” Scioscia told the LA Times. “So I’ve seen some stuff.”
“It’s certainly unique,” Mead said. “It shows a spirit of cooperation between the city and this organization, in utilizing resources to make sure that we can get these games in.”
The Angels were glad the double-header went ahead: Albert Pujols belted three home runs as they spanked the Red Sox 11-1 and 7-3, completing a four-game sweep and putting the Angels back on top of the AL West.
Pujols homered in both games of a double-header for the first time in his career, and in the process seized the overall major league home run lead from team-mate Mike Trout.
“I enjoy it because I was able to do something tonight to help my ballclub win,” Pujols said. “It’s about the team, man. It’s not about personal success. We’re on top right now, and we can’t take that for granted.”
