Skaggs’ death linked to staffer
Fans give
LOS ANGELES — Former Angels employee Eric Kay has been charged by federal authorities in Texas with distributing fentanyl in connection with the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs, according to court documents.
An affidavit in support of the criminal complaint against Kay filed in U.S. District Court in Fort Worth said the longtime member of the Angels’ media relations department and Skaggs had a
“history of narcotic transactions” and that Kay would “distribute these pills to (Skaggs) and others in their place of employment and while they were working.”
Kay voluntarily surrendered to authorities Friday, per court records. The complaint was unsealed Friday. Skaggs, 27, died in his Southlake, Texas, hotel room July 1, 2019, before the Angels were to play the Rangers. He was found on his bed, fully clothed, with no signs of trauma.
A toxicology report by the Tarrant County medical examiner found the opioids fentanyl and oxycodone in his system. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication with terminal aspiration of gastric contents,” meaning he choked on his vomit.
“It was later determined that but for the fentanyl in (Skaggs’) system, (he) would not have died,” the affidavit said. In a statement Friday in response to the charge, the Angels said: “We learned that there was unacceptable behavior inconsistent with our code of conduct, and we took steps to address it.”
Athletics: Bench coach Ryan Christenson has apologized for raising his arm during a postgame celebration in what looked like a Nazi salute. Christenson made the gesture while greeting closer Liam Hendriks following the A’s 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday. Hendriks immediately pushed Christenson’s arm down and cameras then showed him laughing and briefly raising his arm a second time. Christenson faced criticism after video of the gesture circulated on social media. “I made a mistake and will not deny it,” Christenson said in a statement issued through the team. “Today in the dugout I greeted players with a gesture that was offensive. In the world today of COVID, I adapted our elbow bump, which we do after wins, to create some distance with the players. My gesture unintentionally resulted in a racist and horrible salute that I do not believe in. What I did is unacceptable and I deeply apologize.”
Indians: Hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo has opted out of the 2020 season due to concerns about contracting the coronavirus. Team President Chris Antonetti said Friday that Van Burkelo had been contemplating his departure for some time because of a personal high-risk condition and for his family. The Van Burkleos have a special needs child. Antonetti said the challenges of traveling and the lack of room in road ballparks may have been the tipping point for the 57-year-old Van Burkleo, who is in his eighth season with the club. He had been facing criticism over Cleveland’s early offensive strugglelenges,” he said.
Marlins: Manager Don Mattingly was talking about this week’s doubleheader sweep at Baltimore that involved a parade of relievers, including several newcomers rescued from unemployment, and after naming three of them he drew a blank. “I’ve got to remember who all we used,” Mattingly said. “Who else pitched today? I don’t know.” For the Marlins, this season has been a bit of a blur. It was halted for eight days because of a coronavirus outbreak that sidelined more than half the team, and four games into the resumption of play, there’s cause for eye-rubbing. The Marlins are in first place in August, a first for the franchise. In fact, at 6-1 they have the best record in baseball, staging a one-year turnaround not seen since the 1899 St. Louis Perfectos.
Nationals: World Series MVP Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his season debut on Sunday against the Orioles after being sidelined by a nerve problem in his pitching hand. Strasburg missed what would have been his first two appearances of 2020 after making all 33 starts last year and then becoming the first pitcher to finish a postseason with a 5-0 record. “The tingling in his thumb is gone, and that’s a good sign. We watched him and he’s throwing some really good bullpens. That was the big thing for me: Nothing in his mechanics has changed. Everything’s good,” manager Dave Martinez said Friday before Washington’s series opener against visiting Baltimore.