The Angels’ Jo Adell runs to first after driving in the go-ahead run with a single during the eighth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher James Kaprielian, a former Beckman High and UCLA standout, throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani doubles during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani doubles during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a double during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a double during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oakland Athletics’ Cristian Pache runs up the line after hitting a single during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Oakland Athletics’ Chad Pinder celebrates in the dugout after scoring on an infield single by Cristian Pache during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels starting pitcher Patrick Sandoval throws to the plate during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Oakland A’s Jordan Diaz scores past Angels catcher Matt Thaiss on a two-run double hit by Nick Allen during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a two-run double hit by Nick Allen during the second inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels catcher Matt Thaiss tags Oakland’s Cristian Pache for an out at home plate during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angels catcher Matt Thaiss tags Oakland’s Cristian Pache for an out at home plate during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Angels catcher Matt Thaiss tags Oakland’s Cristian Pache for an out at home plate during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher James Kaprielian, a former Beckman High and UCLA standout, throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Mike Ford returns to the dugout after scoring on a single hit by Matt Thaiss during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oakland Athletics shortstop Nick Allen throws to first to force out the Angels’ Jo Adell during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Matt Thaiss scores past Oakland catcher Sean Murphy on a single hit by Luis Rengifo during the second inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Matt Thaiss returns to the dugout after scoring on a single hit by Luis Rengifo during the second inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oakland A’s starting pitcher James Kaprielian, a former Beckman High and UCLA standout, throws to the plate during the first inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani gets loose before batting during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani gets loose before batting during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat as he singles during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat as he singles during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani makes it back to first base on a pick-off attempt during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani runs to third on a single hit by Matt Duffy during the third inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani leads off of third base while Oakland Athletics starting pitcher James Kaprielian throws to the plate during the third inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels relief pitcher Andrew Wantz throws to the plate during the sixth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo throws to first to force out the Oakland Athletics’ Jordan Diaz during the sixth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani shows his frustration after hitting a foul ball during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani shows his frustration after swinging for a strike during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher A.J. Puk throws to the plate during the seventh inning of their game against the Angels on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani shows his frustration after hitting a foul ball during the seventh inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Michael Stefanic runs past Oakland A’s first baseman Dermis Garcia on a sacrifice bunt during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Matt Duffy scores the go-ahead run ahead of a throw to Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Duffy scored on a single hit by Jo Adell. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Matt Duffy scores to go-ahead run past Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. Duffy scored on a single hit by Jo Adell, and the Angels held on for a 4-3 win. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Livan Soto, left, celebrates with Matt Duffy after Duffy scored the go-ahead run on a single by Jo Adell during the eighth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oakland Athletics second baseman Tony Kemp dives to catch a fly ball hit by the Angels’ Livan Soto during the eighth inning on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels relief pitcher Jimmy Herget throws to the plate during the ninth inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, high-fives relief pitcher Jimmy Herget after their 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels outfielders Taylor Ward, left, Jo Adell, center, and Mike Trout celebrate after the final out of their 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, high-fives second baseman Luis Rengifo after their 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, center, high-fives first baseman Mike Ford after their 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Angels center fielder Mike Trout walks through the dugout during the first inning of their game against the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night at Angel Stadium. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM — Phil Nevin seemed to be well aware of the contradiction even as he was saying it.
The Angels manager had just gotten finished saying that he had to have a conversation on Monday night with Jo Adell about his recent lack of playing time. Then after Adell contributed the biggest hit and biggest defensive play in the Angels’ 4-3 victory over the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night, Nevin was asked what Adell needs to do to become consistent enough to be an everyday player.
“Consistent at-bats, in one place, which, quite frankly, he hasn’t had a lot of that in his entire career,” Nevin said. “He just needs to play. He really just needs to play, as a lot of young players do. Think about how young he is still (23). He came up (in 2020) at a time where, if you look back, he was rushed. It’s been another learning curve for him to get to this point. But the work he’s put in, the effort he gives every day is something that I really appreciate from him.”
Adell is hitting .223 with a .626 OPS and seven home runs. He has struck out 95 times in 257 plate appearances and walked just 10 times. For his career, he’s up to 529 plate appearances, with a .214 batting average and .609 OPS.
The Angels had dropped him into a platoon with left-handed Mickey Moniak. Because most pitchers are right-handed, Moniak had been getting the bulk of the playing time, including all three starts over the weekend in Minnesota. Nevin said he wanted Adell to start on Tuesday, even though they were facing another righty, so he wouldn’t sit for so long.
He had been hitless in his first three at-bats on Thursday before getting a chance in the eighth inning with the score tied. Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and then Michael Stefanic moved him into scoring position with a perfect sacrifice.
Adell then yanked a single through the left side of the infield, driving in Duffy.
That was the capper to a night that also included a spectacular catch. In the fifth inning, A’s first baseman Dermis Garcia drilled a shot toward the fence, and Adell leaped and snagged it, with his glove over the fence. He said he wasn’t sure if the ball was going out, but he enjoyed it nonetheless.
Jo Adell suddenly has had way more defensive highlights than offensive highlights in the last 6 weeks or so. pic.twitter.com/4VvmSrWuFt
“I tell you what, man, it’s more exciting to me than a homer,” Adell said. “Especially for me personally and the work that I’ve done defensively. I take more pride in that. When I get something good defensively done, it helps the pitcher. It builds camaraderie. It’s huge.”
Defense has been the biggest knock on Adell for most of his three seasons in the big leagues. He’s been doing extra work on the field with outfield coach Damon Mashore for months. Mashore hits him fungoes from around home plate, and Adell gets game-like reads in left field.
“There’s a lot of things that are paying off,” Nevin said. “His first-step quickness is getting better. That was a nice ball that he caught tonight.”
It preserved a tie for Patrick Sandoval, who gave up three runs in 5-1/3 innings, with all of the damage coming in the second inning.
In that inning, the A’s had five hits and a walk and they scored three runs against Sandoval. Two of the hits were infield hits, though. Another was a ground ball single. Two of the runs scored on Nick Allen’s double off the left field wall. Adell and shortstop Livan Soto prevented further damage with a couple of strong throws to nail Cristian Pache at the plate.
Other than the second, Sandoval gave up just one single and one walk in the rest of his outing.
“Just fighting myself the whole game,” Sandoval said. “Couldn’t find the changeup. Wasn’t really consistent with the slider. Got to be better in the zone with all my stuff for this next last one.”
Sandoval has one start left this season, and he’s thrown 142-2/3 innings with a 3.09 ERA.
While Sandoval limited the damage to one inning, the Angels could only score in one inning against right-hander James Kaprielian, a former Beckman High and UCLA standout.
The Angels began the inning with three straight hits, plating runs on a Matt Thaiss single, a Soto sacrifice fly and Luis Rengifo’s single.
Soto singled and tripled in his next two trips to the plate. The 22-year-old is hitting .379 with a 1.062 OPS through his first 10 major league games.
