Donnelly Says He’ll Clear Air With Reese

Brendan Donnelly said he intends to speak to Boston Red Sox shortstop Pokey Reese when the Angels travel to Fenway Park in late August to sort out a misunderstanding rooted in the seventh inning of the Angels’ 8-3 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday at Angel Stadium.

With the Angels leading, 8-1, and two out in the seventh, Reese attempted to bunt for a single but third baseman Chone Figgins barehanded the ball and threw Reese out at first on a spectacular play.

Donnelly, who played with Reese in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, said he looked at his former teammate and waited “for him to turn around and give me a smile.”

But several Red Sox players, interpreting Donnelly’s glance as a stare-down, barked at him from the dugout, and an umpire warned both teams to prevent tensions from escalating.

“I don’t know what got into Donnelly,” Reese told a reporter from the Boston Herald on Sunday. “I knew him when we were with the Reds -- back when he was about my size -- and I thought he was a pretty cool cat. I guess he’s too good to bunt on now.”

Donnelly said Reese probably made those comments in jest.

“I don’t believe Pokey would actually say something like that with any kind of [malicious] intent,” Donnelly said. “It was a big misunderstanding. It seems like every time I try to have fun on the field, it looks like I’m trying to show someone up.”

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After being given the day off Sunday, Jose Guillen sat out again Monday, because of stiffness in his lower back. He could return to the lineup today. Manager Mike Scioscia said Guillen’s back started bothering him during a recent series against the Toronto Blue Jays and flared up again Monday. Jeff DaVanon took Guillen’s spot in left field, with Tim Salmon serving as the designated hitter.... Scioscia said right-hander Bartolo Colon, who had to leave Saturday’s game after the sixth inning because of tightness in his forearm, still appears on track to make his next scheduled start, Thursday against the Texas Rangers.