OC Register: Angels delight fans with late rally for Opening Day victory

[AngelsWin.com]

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  The Angels and the White Sox take the field for the National Anthem during their season opener on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angels fans line up outside Angel Stadium for Thursday’s season opener against the White Sox. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  With the new COVID-19 restrictions fans are separated from other fans in Angel Stadium for season opening game against the White Sox in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angel fans look for stray baseballs near the right field fence Angel Stadium for season opening game against the White Sox in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Angels’ season opener against the White Sox included a limited number of fans on Thursday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Angels and the White Sox take the field for the National Anthem during the opening at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angel fans attend opening season game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. COVID-19 restrictions fans are separated from other fans. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angel’s Mike Trout (27) gives Joe Madden (70) a hug during the introductions during the season opening game ceremony in a game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Angels and the White Sox take the field for the National Anthem during the opening at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angels fans, top, take a selfie as they sit in their seats under the COVID-19 restrictions in Angel Stadium for season opening game against the White Sox in Anaheim on Thursday, April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Justin Upton (10) of the Angels hits a single in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring Mike Trout (27) during the season opening game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Mike Trout (27) of the Angels jumps onto home plate for score in the bottom of the fourth inning on a single by Justin Upton (10) during a season opening game against the White Sox at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Pitcher Dylan Bundy (37) of the Angels pitches against the White Sox during the season opening game against at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Max Stassi (33) of the Angels is congratulated by Mike Trout (27) after Stassi hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth inning against the White Sox in the season opening game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Angels shortstop José Iglesias throw to first after forcing out Yoan Moncada at second in the bottom of the fifth inning of Thursday’s season opener against the White Sox at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  Nick Madrigal (1) of the White Sox throws the ball to first for the double play after forcing out Anthony Rendon (6), of the Angels, at second base in the bottom of the sixth inning during the season opening game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday,April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  David Fletcher (22) of the Angels and Nick Madrigal (1) of the White Sox look to the umpire as he calls Madrigal out on a tag at second base in the top of the seventh inning during the season opening game against at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Thursday, April 1, 2021. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani slides into home plate to score the go-ahead run on an Albert Pujols ground out in the bottom of the eighth inning of Thursday night’s season opener against the White Sox at Angel Stadium. The Angels held on to win, 4-3. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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ANAHEIM — The 13,207 fans who showed up to Angel Stadium on Opening Day likely were thrilled that they could do more than simply yell at their televisions.

And the Angels gave them something to cheer about.

A two-run rally in the eighth inning lifted the Angels to a 4-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday night in the first game Angel Stadium had hosted with fans since the end of the 2019 season.

The Angels tied the score on a Mike Trout RBI single and took their first lead of the night on an Albert Pujols groundout.

New closer Raisel Iglesias then worked the ninth to pick up the save, starting the Angels’ season off in encouraging fashion.

Dylan Bundy gave up three runs in six innings, two of them on an Adam Eaton homer on a misplaced changeup.

Relievers Aaron Slegers and Mike Mayers then worked scoreless innings to hold the deficit at one run while the hitters came back.

They had scored two runs against White Sox ace Lucas Giolito, one on a Justin Upton RBI single in the fourth and one on Max Stassi’s homer in the fifth.

Although the offense was quiet for much of the night, the game stayed close because of the defense.

Shortstop José Iglesias made the play of the night when he dove to his right to snag a Jose Abreu grounder. Then he popped up and threw out Abreu, pumping his fist after the out.

Earlier in the game, third baseman Anthony Rendon leaped to grab a bouncer and throw out Tim Anderson, and then Trout raced deep into right-center to track down a ball. Stassi threw out Nick Madrigal trying to steal in the seventh.

All of it would have been for naught if the Angels hadn’t strung together a rally in the eighth.

David Fletcher led off with an infield single off either Aaron Bummer. Shohei Ohtani then hit a grounder to second, but Madrigal’s throw to second pulled Anderson off the bag.

After Fletcher alertly took third on a ball that skipped just a few feet away from catcher Yasmani Grandal, Trout hammered a single into left to tie the score.

Upton worked an 11-pitch walk to load the bases for Pujols, whose little chopper down the third-base line was good enough.

More to come on this story.

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