Cubs News: Garrett fires back at Baez over on-field confrontation |
CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez had some choice words for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Amir Garrett's actions surrounding their on-field confrontation in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
However, Garrett, despite being the instigator, did not back down in his postgame interview, either, calling out Baez for not being able to handle Garrett's celebration after the seventh-inning strikeout. Amir Garrett on Javier Baez exchange: "If you're going to dish it, you've got to take it."
"I love Javy Baez as a player. I love the way he plays the game as a player, but if you are going to dish it, sometimes you have to take it. That's how it goes. There are no hard feelings. It's over with." The Reds and Cubs were having so much fun they decided to get everyone involved on the field #BenchesCleared pic.twitter.com/zJZDb9ItLM
Garrett is assumed to have gone over the top after the strikeout in retaliation for what he deemed to be an excessive celebration by Baez after he homered off Garrett last year. .@Javy23baez got the slam AND the swag. https://t.co/R3DxkumWrc #PapaSlam pic.twitter.com/Sw8jwY0Vlr
But Garrett simply implied after the game that the excitement around the game and the matchup with Baez led to his reaction. "I always play the game with a lot of emotion. Today was just one of those days," Garrett said. "It's always high when you come out and play against the Cubs." Garrett was lucky to avoid an ejection for barking with Baez as he walked off the field after the inning-ending strikeout. Instead, he simply enacted retribution that was a year in the making and escaped unscathed, as that proved to be his last at-bat of the game. "That's just how the game goes," Garrett said. "He got me. I got him. We're even, and we're going to have plenty more matchups going forward."
More reaction tonight at 10:45 on @fox19 #Sportswrap pic.twitter.com/Ktmqr4PcNC
