(670 The Score) Cubs shortstop Javier Baez and Reds reliever Amir Garrett still appear to hate each other.
We were reminded of that as their rivalry continued Monday night, when Baez hit a towering fly ball off Garrett to deep center in the bottom of the ninth inning that went for a walk-off single and gave the Cubs a come-from-behind 6-5 win at a frenzied Wrigley Field. Before his pinch-hit at-bat with the bases loaded and out out even began, Baez was chirping at Garrett. And then upon swinging away at the first pitch and driving it deep for the win, Baez really amped up his trash talk in a scene unlike anything in recent memory. Baez walked slowly – really, really slowly – on a 16-second trip to first base while screaming at Garrett and cranking the bat that he was still holding in his hand in a stir-the-pot manner. Baez then threw the bat down on the ground in the general vicinity of Garrett in what perhaps could only be described as celebratory anger and a troll of Garrett.
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Because of Garrett’s restraint and an umpire helping steer him back to the dugout, what could’ve been an uglier incident was avoided as just words were exchanged. Garrett kept yelling at Baez and the Cubs once he returned to the dugout.
The beef between Baez and Garrett traces back to at least 2019. More recently, they had a run-in and war of words on May 1, when Baez got upset by Garrett’s celebratory antics on the mound and got into a shouting match with him, which led to the benches clearing.
“He needs to respect the game,” Baez said back then while adding if Garrett wanted to fight, he would be ready to go at it.
Here's a look at a longer video with more of the backstory between Baez and Garrett -- plus a long look at Baez's celebration after getting the best of Garrett on Monday.
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