ANAHEIM ― Shohei Ohtani held a brief in-dugout meeting with Phil Nevin after the 10th inning of the Angels’ 5-3 victory over the Twins on Saturday night.
The inning ended when Ohtani was thrown out at first base. Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton dove to catch a low line drive hit by Luis Rengifo, then threw to first before Ohtani could slide in safely.
Nevin took responsibility for the inning-ending double play. The manager had called for Ohtani to steal second base with one out, anticipating that Rengifo would hit a ground ball ― or, failing that, be walked intentionally to bring up Taylor Ward.
Instead the Angels got no runs out of their first-and-third, one-out advantage.
“Shohei’s a smart guy,” Nevin said. “We discussed whether it was right to run him or not.”
Also?
“A teaching moment,” Nevin said, “because (Ohtani) didn’t touch second base on the way back, so even if (Magneuris) Sierra tags and scores, Sho’s going to be out because he didn’t touch second.”
TANGLED UP IN BLUE
Nevin played only 17 games for the Twins at the tail end of his career. Yet Nevin said his memories of his time in Minnesota are stronger than those of any other stop in his career, save his seven-season run in San Diego from 1999 to 2005.
The last of those 17 games happened to be Nevin’s only playoff appearance in 12 years as a player. He went 0 for 3 in an American League Division Series game against the Oakland A’s, which the Twins lost in a three-game sweep. Nevin never appeared in another major league game.
“I was a deadline trade,” Nevin recalled. “I loved my time over there. … It was my only opportunity to be in the playoffs as a player. I was teasing (Twins third baseman) Gio Urshela about picking 15 ― because I wore it there ― before they retire it.”
ALSO
Mike Trout took batting practice on the field for the second straight day, taking more swings than he did Saturday. Trout also ran on the field in addition to working out inside Angel Stadium, Nevin said. There is no timetable for Trout to face live pitching as he attempts to return from a costovertebral dysfunction. … Touki Toussiant is a candidate to start Wednesday’s game against the Mariners, Nevin said, but only if the right-hander isn’t needed for long relief in the meantime. Shohei Ohtani and Jose Suarez will start the first two games of the series. … Seattle will send right-hander Luis Castillo, left-hander Robbie Ray and right-hander George Kirby to the mound, in that order.
UP NEXT
Seattle (RHP Luis Castillo, 1-0, 1.84 ERA) at Angels (RHP Shohei Ohtani, 10-7, 2.68 ERA), Monday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West
