Two years later, Skaggs’ injury is ‘water under bridge’

ANAHEIM — When Tyler Skaggs thinks about July 31, 2014, in Baltimore, a start that began with four no-hit innings and ended with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, he recalls the high, 94-mph four-seam fastball that zipped past Adam Jones for what became his final strikeout. All of the negatives — the Tommy John surgery it led to and the near-24-month recovery that followed — have been tucked away somewhere else.

“Water under the bridge now,” Skaggs said late Sunday afternoon, moments after the Angels’ crushing, 5-3 loss to the Red Sox. “I only take the positives. I was dealing in that game, and I felt like I was starting to turn the corner. It’s kind of what I focus on.”

Skaggs pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings on Sunday in his return to Angel Stadium, which marked the two-year anniversary of the game that altered his entire career. He struck out eight and stranded six — five days after throwing seven scoreless innings at Kauffman Stadium in his first big league start since surgery — and ended up with a no-decision only because Huston Street gave up five two-out runs in the ninth inning.

“Two years to the day,” Skaggs said. “I’ve come a long way in those two years. I’m bigger, stronger, throwing harder. Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.”

Skaggs was barely two weeks removed from his 23rd birthday on the night he was injured. He held the Orioles to only one baserunner, on a leadoff walk, in the first four innings. His stuff, Skaggs said, “was the best it’s ever been,” and that’s probably why his elbow gave …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com