The Boston Red Sox lost to the Angels 21-2 on Saturday, but they won big time the day before when they invited the families of two military officers to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Corporal Philip West and Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Blaise just returned from deployments overseas, but their families had no idea they were coming home this early. West’s brother, Tyler, and Blaise’s son, Ryan, were asked to take to the mound and kick off Fourth of July weekend at Fenway when their “catchers” popped out of the dugout for the surprise reunion.

There’s nothing more American than baseball, hot dogs, and military heroes.