Talk about a memorable home debut for VFL Christian Moore.
With the Angels hosting division foe Houston on Friday night, Moore had three distinct moments in the span of the game. While Los Angeles went on to lose the game, 3-2, in the 10th inning, Moore proved himself to be a fearless teammate who wasn’t afraid to make some enemies along the way.
The first of the three moments was a tone-setting explosive situation in the third inning.
After LA shortstop Zach Neto was hit by a pitch from Houston’s Hunter Brown, words were immediately exchanged between the batter and pitcher. This was Neto’s second time being hit by Brown in the last year, which only heightened the situation as the two players jawed while walking closer to each other.
This led to the benches clearing in defense of their own teammates. But who was leading the charge for LA, unafraid to have his guy’s back? Former Vol Christian Moore.
Moore was pushed in the scuffle as the lead man but held his ground. No punches were thrown, but it was active enough for the bullpens to make their way down as well.
Benches clear in the Astros/Angels game. pic.twitter.com/Sjtr6cRfpq
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 21, 2025
Christian Moore taking up for his teammates against Hunter Brown in the Angels-Astros game. pic.twitter.com/ILp0b33FX4
— Dan Harralson (@danharralson) June 21, 2025
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Christian Moore has always been known as a competitor. That’s what makes the next big moment so unsurprising.
With the Astros leading 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Moore crushed a 92 MPH fastball 411 feet to center field for his first home run in the big leagues, tying the game up at 2-2. Moore battled through a seven-pitch at-bat, which started with an 0-2 count after just two pitches, before belting his long ball.
CAREER HOME RUN NO. 1 & WE’RE ALL TIED UP!!!!! 😇 pic.twitter.com/xQksql52WG
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 21, 2025
The third big moment to round things off was a defensive play for the Angels’ rookie.
With the game still tied at two in the top of the eighth, Houston had two runners on first and second with two outs on the board. Houston catcher Yanier Diaz hit a sharp liner to the right side of the infield, but Moore made a jaw-dropping diving play to catch the ball before it soared into the outfield, saving the go-ahead run before the ninth inning.
“WHAT A CATCH AT SECOND BASE!” the Angels’ TV announcer yelled with excitement.
CHRISTIAN M👀RE pic.twitter.com/Sa7T2kFQDu
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) June 21, 2025
Houston ended up scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th off a wild pitch, and the Angels couldn’t match it in the bottom of the inning. But while the game is chalked up as a loss on the Angels’ record, the home debut for Christian Moore was certainly one to remember.
Moore’s LA teammates have no doubt that the former Vol has a fighting spirit inside him, and there’s no doubt that the Halos fans will rally around that as well.
As one fan said online, “Alexa, play ‘Rocky Top.'”
Alexa, play “Rocky Top.”
— DSM2018 (@DebShepMoy1) June 21, 2025
