Giavotella shows knack for defensive gems

ARLINGTON — Angels second baseman Johnny Giavotella is on something of a tear offensively, with a career-high 12-game hitting streak and a .381 batting average over his last 17 contests — but it’s his defense that continues to impress.

Giavotella, rated one of the worst defenders at his position last year, has shown marked improvement with the glove. He has only one error in 124 chances and has converted a highlight-reel play in each of his last three games, making an off-balance throw on a slow roller in a crucial spot on Saturday, sprawling to his left to field a hard grounder on Sunday and diving to his right to rob Adrian Beltre of a potential game-tying single on Monday in a 2-0 win for the Angels.

Giavotella spent the offseason training with former Rangers manager Ron Washington, who is currently the A’s third-base coach. But the 28-year-old infielder has also gleaned from the Angels’ last two shortstops, Erick Aybar and Andrelton Simmons.

They taught him to be himself.

“They just rely on their natural …

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