“It felt surreal,” infielder Mauricio Dubón of the Giants remarked. “It was quite nice since she was one of us out there.”
The Giants have been grooming Nakken for an on-field coaching job for some time, as she previously served as the club’s first-base coach during an exhibition game versus the A’s two years ago at the Coliseum. “Our first-base coach was ejected,” Nakken explained. “I’ve spent the previous few years preparing as a first-base coach. Because I work alongside Antoan, I stepped into the role for which I was employed.”
While Nakken downplayed the accomplishment, players on both sides appeared to recognize its significance. When Nakken returned to the dugout in the bottom of the third, she received a celebratory handshake from Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer and a hearty embrace from Giants catcher Curt Casali.
“All I did was introduce myself and congratulate her,” Hosmer said. “Obviously, this is a tremendous occasion for her, as well as a significant time for the game. It’s an accomplishment she should be quite proud of.”
