Angels' Manger Explains Late-Game Decision that Cost LA Win Over Cleveland

Another disappointing end for LA.

The Los Angeles Angels should be far better on the record books than they currently are. Few teams in the MLB have taken losses due to the slightest of game decisions the way the Halos have in 2023.

They entered the Cleveland Guardians' stadium on Sunday with a solid chance to finally win another series after dropping their previous two to Texas and Houston. Patrick Sandoval took the mound against an old high school teammate in Tanner Bibee. 

Mickey Moniak was also coming off of an amazing debut and even though LA was without Mike Trout & Anthony Rendon, they still battled.

Patrick Sandoval is through seven innings on 89 pitches. He's allowed just one unearned run on four hits with five strikeouts. But #Angels have just one hit off Sandoval's Mission Viejo HS teammate Tanner Bibee and are down 1-0.

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) May 14, 2023

Happy Mother’s Day! 💗 pic.twitter.com/630Eekiwe8

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 14, 2023

It truly was a pitching battle for most of the game between Sandoval and Bibee as they both allowed under five hits through the first eight innings.

The score was 1-1 at this point and could've gone any other way. However, a slew of decisions from team manager Phil Nevin cost them pretty badly in the eighth inning. He opted to take out Patrick Sandoval early and also walk Jose Ramirez.

Carlos Estevez then went on to give up a three-run home run to Josh Naylor.

Josh Naylor has had a go-ahead home run in the 8th inning in THREE STRAIGHT GAMES.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/Mfrb0ryYqR

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 14, 2023

Nevin went on to explain exactly why he made this decision and how it impacted them afterwards.

“I’m not going to let José Ramírez beat me,” Nevin said. “I said that before the series started, and I had my best against (Naylor) with where we’re at right there. I felt good about the matchup. He just got into another one.”

(Via The OC Register)

Like anything else, this is a learning situation and you have to live with the decisions you make. Nevin and the Angels will move on as they face the Baltimore Orioles.