Angels News: Ron Washington Reflects on First Game as Halos Manager

"Young kids" provide late-game heroics.

First-year manager of the Los Angeles Angels, Ron Washington, led his squad to a 7-7 tie against the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of 9,764 fans at Tempe Diablo Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

He used a lineup comprised of everyday players in the field and young pitchers looking to prove themselves.

The youth showed up late in the game when the Angels found themselves down 7-4 after blowing a 4-2 lead.

Late-game heroics from Kyren Paris and Jason Martin tied the game, and then Washington turned the final inning into a teaching moment.

"Down the stretch there, we ended up using some of our young kids and they just couldn't find the strike zone. Nick Jones has good stuff so I just wanted to go out there and let him know if you throw it in the strike zone, good things can happen. Don't come in and all of a sudden, they get us because you didn't throw the ball across the plate. If they get you, they get you but not because you didn't throw the ball across the plate and he did."

Ron Washington via Bally Sports West

.@EricaLWeston talks with Ron Washington after game one in Tempe! @Angels | #LAASpring pic.twitter.com/A2sRlkeW5y

— Bally Sports West (@BallySportWest) February 24, 2024

Washington also spoke about Jo Adell, who hit a double and a triple in the contest.

Mike Trout was also a talking point, and Washington said he would do whatever his star player wanted him to. He will "get him as many at-bats as he needs."