For the first time in two years, the sounds of a real crowd filled Angel Stadium on Thursday night.
With a limited number of fans allowed to attend the team’s opening day game against the Chicago White Sox, returning to the ballpark after the 2020 season was staged without any spectators, a familiar soundtrack underscored the game.
Compulsory cheers during the pregame introduction ceremony. Eager gasps when Mike Trout pulled a long line drive in his first at-bat just foul. Sudden roars when third baseman Anthony Rendon snagged a high bouncing ball in the third inning, and shortstop José Iglesias made a diving stop on a grounder in the top of the eighth.