Field Level Media
25 Jun 2022, 18:10 GMT+10
The version of Javier Baez that the Detroit Tigers expected to see has arrived.
The suddenly hot shortstop has homered in three straight games and four of the past six as the Tigers take on the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday night in Phoenix.
Baez bashed a 459-foot grand slam in the third inning on Friday night to help the Tigers cruise to a 5-1 victory.
Baez didn't see how far the ball was flying at first or celebrate his seventh career grand slam. He was more interested in addressing a heckler with a be-quiet signal before he started rounding the bases.
"I turned back and they were just laughing," Baez said after Friday's win. "It was competition stuff. As soon as I hit that ball, the first thing that came to my mind was all this other stuff that he was saying. It was very fun."
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch caught the interaction and wasn't surprised with Baez's reaction.
"Javi doesn't need a lot of motivation," Hinch said. "Javi loves the moment, and that was another big one for him -- and I think he let the fan know it."
Baez signed a six-year, $140 million contract during the offseason and was underachieving badly with a .188 average and three homers after going hitless in four at-bats on June 14.
He has since batted .387 (12-for-31) during an eight-game hitting that has seen his average rise 28 points to .216. Baez has eight extra-base hits during the stretch, including three doubles and one triple.
Detroit's Miguel Cabrera went 1-for-4 in the opener. His career hit total sits at 3,052, one behind Rod Carew for 27th place on the all-time list.
The victory snapped a three-game skid for the Tigers. It was just Detroit's third win in the past 12 games.
Meanwhile, Arizona has dropped four consecutive games and five of the past six contests. The Diamondbacks had just three hits -- all singles -- in their latest long night at the ballpark.
The contest left manager Torey Lovullo feeling dismayed.
"It didn't go anywhere close to where we wanted it to," Lovullo said of the game. "We've got to figure it out."
The Diamondbacks were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position on Friday. They have scored two or fewer runs in four of their past six games.
Arizona right-hander Zach Davies (2-4, 3.96 ERA) is aiming to halt a seven-start winless stretch when he takes the mound on Saturday.
Davies is 0-3 during the span despite twice pitching at least seven innings without allowing an earned run.
The 29-year-old lost to the San Diego Padres in his last turn after permitting four runs on as many hits over six innings. He served up two homers in that setback after not allowing any in his previous three starts.
Davies received a no-decision in his lone career start against the Tigers in 2018, when he was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. He gave up three runs and five hits over four innings.
Baez is batting .303 (10-for-33) with a homer against Davies from his time in the National League.
Detroit will counter with right-hander Alex Faedo (1-4, 4.67). Faedo is 0-3 over his last five starts since beating the Cleveland Guardians on May 22.
The 26-year-old has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) and 17 runs in just 7 1/3 innings over his last two turns. He hadn't allowed more than two runs in an outing prior to the tough stretch.
Faedo gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings while losing to the Boston Red Sox on Monday.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Cleveland Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Cleveland Star.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - Global stock indices closed with divergent performances on Tuesday, as investors weighed corporate earnings, central...
TORONTO, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late on June 29 that trade negotiations with the U.S. have recommenced...
Vancouver, Canada: A high-stakes legal showdown is brewing in the world of athleisure. Lululemon, the Canadian brand known for its...
LONDON, U.K.: British oil giant Shell has denied reports that it is in talks to acquire rival oil company BP. The Wall Street Journal...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed firmly in positive territory to start the week Monday, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he was halting trade discussions with Canada due to its decision...
ABU DHABI, 19th June, 2025 (WAM) -- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has become the first and only research hospital in the UAE to receive...
ABU DHABI, 17th June, 2025 (WAM) -- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, has successfully introduced continuous infusion...
ABU DHABI, 9th June, 2025 (WAM) -- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has successfully performed the UAE's first robotic cytoreductive surgery...
ABU DHABI,16th May, 2025 (WAM) - Oracle Health, Cleveland Clinic, and G42 today announced a strategic partnership to develop a groundbreaking...
ABU DHABI, 6th May, 2025 (WAM) -- PureHealth and its subsidiary SEHA have partnered with the number one US children's hospital, Cincinnati...
Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin, the genre-blending film and television composer behind the Mission: Impossible, Bullitt, and Cool...