Tensions flared during Saturday night's Angels-Mariners game when Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin vehemently contested a called third strike on Shohei Ohtani. With the Angels trailing by three runs, home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi deemed a pitch that appeared outside the strike zone to be a strike, sparking immediate frustration from both Ohtani and Nevin. The typically composed Ohtani showed visible displeasure, while Nevin, already ejected, stormed onto the field in a heated exchange with Cuzzi. The Angels crowd roared their approval as a visibly agitated Nevin left the field.

Following the 6-2 loss to Seattle, Nevin explained his outburst, attributing it to the escalating chatter from the Angels' dugout. He indicated that Cuzzi may have misinterpreted his gesture to bring in a relief pitcher. Nevin stated that he accepts responsibility for the ejection to protect his players and coaching staff and that such situations are inevitable when confronting an umpire.

Despite the controversial call, Ohtani managed a 1-for-4 performance, including his 18th home run of the season – a two-run shot in the third inning. Mariners rookie pitcher Bryan Woo largely contained the Angels’ offense, striking out seven batters over 4 2/3 innings and yielding only four hits, including Ohtani's home run. The Mariners offense, on the other hand, racked up 16 hits, with Julio Rodriguez leading the charge at 3-for-5, a home run, and two RBIs. Rodriguez emphasized the importance of capitalizing on opportunities, stating that hitting those pitches the pitcher thinks he got away with sends a clear message and contributes crucial runs for the team.