Javier Baez and Amir Garrett had to be separated in an instance of bad blood spilling over.
Javier Baez and Amir Garrett had to be separated in an instance of bad blood spilling over.

Cubs News: Baez, Maddon fire back at Garrett in postgame interviews


by - Senior Writer -

CINCINNATI — In the seventh inning of the Chicago Cubs' 5-4 loss in game one of the doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez and Cincinnati Reds reliever Amir Garrett got into a heated altercation.

After striking out Baez to end the top half of the seventh, Garrett acted as if he had just collected a save in game seven of the World Series, storming off the mound with his chest puffed out and bellowing an over-the-top war cry.

"(Garrett) let out a Lion King type of a roar," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said when speaking on the incident following the game. "I'm certain if he continues with that method, that's going to happen more often."

Referring to the fracas that happened after Garrett's melodramatic display, Maddon, evidently, sided with Baez for taking issue with Garrett's antics.

Staring Garrett down as he walked toward the dugout, Baez began barking back and forth with Garrett, and the two soon had to be separated. As a result, both benches cleared, and several Cubs let Garrett hear about it once they stormed onto the field.

Supposedly, Garrett was still peeved at Baez for showboating after hitting a grand slam off him last May. Therefore, as middle relievers are notorious for holding grudges against batters, Garrett opted to one-up Baez's showboating after striking him out.

Clearly not impressed with Garrett's exuberance, Baez was self-deprecating in his criticism of Garrett, telling reporters postgame, "He stared at me, and he's frustrated because I got a homer off him last year. But, right now, anybody can strike me out because I'm struggling. I'm frustrated."

Baez also took an unveiled shot at Garrett, saying, "If you're going to show somebody up, at least face up or man up and stay there or walk this way. If you want to fight, you're in the wrong sport. When somebody got in front of him, he started walking to us."

Thankfully, the to-do never got physical, and no ejections took place. That actually proved to the last at-bat of the day for Garrett, and, in Baez and Maddon's opinions, he did not go out on a high note.

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