Latest news with #JavierBáez
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Guerrero hits 2 doubles and scores twice as the AL-best Blue Jays beat the slumping Tigers 6-2
DETROIT (AP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doubled twice and scored a pair of runs as the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the slumping Detroit Tigers 6-2 Friday night. The American League-leading Blue Jays are 7-1 since the All-Star break, while the Tigers have lost five straight and 11 of 12. José Berríos (7-4) picked up the win, giving up two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings. Keider Montero (4-3) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits in four-plus innings. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second when Wenceel Pérez singled, stole second and scored on Dillon Dingler's double. Addison Barger's RBI double made it 1-1 in the fourth and he scored with two outs on a throwing error by Javier Báez. The Blue Jays then took control with a four-run fifth. Nathan Lukes and George Springer started the inning with singles, and Guerrero hit an RBI double. Bo Bichette's two-run double made it 5-1 and Alejandro Kirk's single off reliever Tyler Holton gave Toronto a five-run lead. Spencer Torkelson's 23rd homer of the season pulled the Tigers within 6-2 in the sixth. Key moment The Tigers didn't get another baserunner after Torkelson's sixth-inning homer. Key stat The Tigers have been outscored 83-32 in their 12-game skid, an average of 4.25 runs per game. They had a plus-112 run differential through 93 games, but have given back almost half of it in a dozen contests. Up next The teams play the third game of their four-game series on Saturday with Tigers ace LHP Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.19 ERA) facing RHP Kevin Gausman (7-7, 4.01). ___ AP MLB: Dave Hogg, The Associated Press
CBS News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Texas Rangers DH Kyle Higashioka almost put out twice by Detroit Tigers All-Stars in strange sequence
Texas designated hitter Kyle Higashioka was almost put out twice by All-Star players from the Detroit Tigers in a strange sequence in the third inning of the Rangers' 2-0 win Friday night. He still never scored. Higashioka first reached base on a one-out single, a sinking liner that American League starting left fielder Riley Greene had in his glove after a sliding play on the ball that was ruled to have hit the ground. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch challenged, but the safe call stood after a lengthy replay review. The ball certainly bounced, but it was unclear on several angles if Greene had the tip of his glove under the ball when it ricocheted up into the webbing. With Higashioka at first, Jonah Heim then hit a grounder up the middle fielded by shortstop Javier Báez on the move in front of second base. Still going forward, Báez extended his glove and the ball to his left without making contact with Higashioka, who did a sidestep and stopped seemingly out of the baseline to avoid him. The shortstop then made a throw wide of first base that allowed Heim to reach safely and Higashioka to advance to third. Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez, also the crew chief, was explaining his call to Báez when Hinch came out for a lengthy argument. Hinch said the explanation he got was that Báez didn't make enough of an effort to tag Higashioka. Báez was the AL starting center fielder in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but in the first game out of the break for the Tigers made his 28th start at shortstop — the same number of games he has started in the outfield this season. Higashioka got stranded at third base when Josh Smith had a shallow flyout on a 3-0 pitch before Corey Seager struck out. Seager's two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning produced the only runs. That included Cody Freeman scoring as a pinch-runner in his big-league debut when ran for Higashioka, who had doubled earlier in the inning before Smith walked.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rangers DH Kyle Higashioka almost put out twice by Tigers All-Stars in strange sequence
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers designated hitter Kyle Higashioka was almost put out twice by All-Star players from Detroit in a strange sequence in the third inning Friday night. He still never scored. Higashioka first reached base on a one-out single, a sinking liner that American League starting left fielder Riley Greene had in his glove after a sliding play on the ball that was ruled to have hit the ground. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch challenged, but the safe call stood after a lengthy replay review. The ball certainly bounced, but it was unclear on several angles if Greene had the tip of his glove under the ball when it ricocheted up into the webbing. With Higashioka at first, Jonah Heim then hit a grounder up the middle fielded by shortstop Javier Báez on the move in front of second base. Still going forward, Báez extended his glove and the ball to his left without making contact with Higashioka, who did a sidestep and stopped seemingly out of the baseline to avoid him. The shortstop then made a throw wide of first base that allowed Heim to reach safely and Higashioka to advance to third. Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez, also the crew chief, was explaining his call to Báez when Hinch came out for a lengthy argument. Báez was the AL starting center fielder in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but in the first game out of the break for the Tigers made his 28th start at shortstop — the same number of games he has started in the outfield this season. Higashioka got stranded at third base when Josh Smith had a shallow flyout on a 3-0 pitch before Corey Seager struck out. ___ AP MLB:
Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rangers DH Kyle Higashioka almost put out twice by Tigers All-Stars in strange sequence
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas Rangers designated hitter Kyle Higashioka was almost put out twice by All-Star players from Detroit in a strange sequence in the third inning Friday night. He still never scored. Higashioka first reached base on a one-out single, a sinking liner that American League starting left fielder Riley Greene had in his glove after a sliding play on the ball that was ruled to have hit the ground. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch challenged, but the safe call stood after a lengthy replay review. The ball certainly bounced, but it was unclear on several angles if Greene had the tip of his glove under the ball when it ricocheted up into the webbing. With Higashioka at first, Jonah Heim then hit a grounder up the middle fielded by shortstop Javier Báez on the move in front of second base. Still going forward, Báez extended his glove and the ball to his left without making contact with Higashioka, who did a sidestep and stopped seemingly out of the baseline to avoid him. The shortstop then made a throw wide of first base that allowed Heim to reach safely and Higashioka to advance to third. Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez, also the crew chief, was explaining his call to Báez when Hinch came out for a lengthy argument. Báez was the AL starting center fielder in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but in the first game out of the break for the Tigers made his 28th start at shortstop — the same number of games he has started in the outfield this season. Higashioka got stranded at third base when Josh Smith had a shallow flyout on a 3-0 pitch before Corey Seager struck out. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
4 years after trade, Javier Báez and Pete Crow-Armstrong share CF as All-Star starters
ATLANTA — The first interaction between Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez and Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong occurred June 6, 2025. They met in the ninth inning of a game at Comerica Park. Nearly four years ago, Báez and Crow-Armstrong were traded for each other at the 2021 trade deadline. Now, they're the starting center fielders for the American League and National League in the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. Advertisement It's a full-circle moment for both players. "I was a Cubs fan growing up," Crow-Armstrong said, "and he was a very important part of my youth baseball life once he burst onto the scene. It was rewarding getting to chat with him in Detroit, just having a little conversation." HIS IMPACT: How is Javier Báez helping Tigers behind the scenes? With advice to younger players Detroit Tigers outfielder Javier Báez (28) throws towards first base against Chicago Cubs during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, June 6, 2025. Here's how the first meeting happened: Crow-Armstrong hit a single in the ninth inning, but he was out on a force play at second base for the second out of the inning. When the Cubs challenged, Crow-Armstrong stood next to Báez throughout the replay review. Advertisement They talked near second base. Before then, they hadn't communicated at all. "I was getting to meet him," Báez said. In Chicago, Crow-Armstrong is the best athlete to wear a Cubs uniform since Báez. Báez — nicknamed "El Mago," which is Spanish for "The Magician" — played for the Cubs from 2014-21 before getting traded to the postseason-hopeful New York Mets in July 2021, with Crow-Armstrong going to the rebuilding Cubs. He spent the remainder of 2021 with the Mets, then signed a six-year $140 million contract with the Tigers. Báez has revived his career in 2025, hitting .275 with 10 home runs and a .752 OPS in 79 games. Advertisement Meanwhile, Crow-Armstrong made his MLB debut in 2023 and emerged as an All-Star for the first time in 2025, hitting .265 with 25 home runs and 27 stolen bases in 95 games. TRUIST PARK: Tigers' Tarik Skubal at 2025 All-Star Game: 'Focus is on winning a championship' Báez, 32, and Crow-Armstrong, 23, made their debuts in different eras of Cubs baseball, but they're similar in the way they play the game: flashy defense, fearlessness on the bases and a free-swinging approach at the plate. "He told me he looked up to me," Báez said. "That's something that makes me happy. The way he plays is really, really close to what I do. I like his style of play." Advertisement Once upon a time, Crow-Armstrong dreamed of playing on the same field as Báez, but he never would've believed they'd share the same position in the All-Star Game. That's because Báez never played center field in his 12-year MLB career — until the 2025 season. "I appreciate what he's done defensively as a shortstop," Crow-Armstrong said, "and now that I can kind of relate that to myself, considering the same position, that's even cooler. He was already one of the best defenders out there, without a doubt." The Tigers moved Báez to center field from late April through late May to accommodate for the injuries in spring training to outfielders Parker Meadows, Matt Vierling and Wenceel Pérez. It was Báez's first time playing center field since his childhood. Advertisement Báez made his first appearance in center field April 6 against the Chicago White Sox, then he made his first start in center field April 21 against the San Diego Padres. He is worth plus-1 defensive runs saved in 259⅔ innings in center field. "He looks natural," Crow-Armstrong said. "That's the best way I can describe it." For All-Star voting, the fans determined the AL starters: Báez in center field, Riley Greene (Tigers) in left field and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) in right field. The fans did the same for the NL starters: Crow-Armstrong in center field, Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves) in left field and Kyle Tucker (Cubs) in right field. Advertisement It marked Báez's third All-Star bid. He joined Pete Rose, Harmon Killebrew and Albert Pujols as the only players in MLB history to start the All-Star Game at three different positions: second base in 2018, shortstop in 2019 and center field in 2025. Getting back to the All-Star Game for the first time in six years serves as a reminder of Báez's career resurgence. He had been a below-average hitter in each of the past three seasons with the Tigers, from 2022-24. In 2025, the veteran Báez is performing like a player reborn after undergoing right hip surgery. He is doing it while competing at multiple positions, including center field. Advertisement "That was a question I had for myself," Báez said, "if I was going to come back, if my body was going to respond, if I was going to have success in the regular season. I struggled, and I worked for it. Everything is paying off. I'm feeling good right now." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at Advertisement This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Javier Báez, Pete Crow-Armstrong share center field in All-Star Game
