Baez taunts fans after hitting homer as Sox closer to official elimination
Javier Baez taunted Chicago fans after hitting a home run, and the Detroit Tigers won 7-2 Saturday night to push the White Sox closer to elimination in the AL Central.
Cleveland has a magic number of one to close out the White Sox to win the division. Before Chicago lost its fifth in a row, the team announced manager Tony La Russa will not return to the dugout this season.
Baez hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning. As he rounded the bases, the former Cubs star held his hand to his ear, stretched out his arms and made a chatter motion as fans booed him.
Baez and Harold Castro each had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Riley Greene also had three hits for the last-place Tigers, who have won four of five. They improved to 6-12 against Chicago.
Detroit took a 3-2 lead in the fifth after singles by Greene, Baez and Castro.
Greene added an RBI single in the seventh before Baez homered off Jake Diekman for a 7-2 lead.
Eloy Jimenez and Gavin Sheets homered on consecutive pitches by Drew Hutchinson (3-9) to tie it at 2 in the White Sox fourth. Jimenez and Sheets each have 15 homers.
Castro hit a two-run homer off Davis Martin (2-5) for a 2-0 lead in the first after the White Sox were unable to complete a double play. Martin gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings.
Hutchinson allowed two runs and four hits in five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
White Sox: OF Luis Robert (sprained left wrist) went on the 10-day injured list Saturday and has been shut down. . OF Mark Payton was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte. . RHP Joe Kelly was reinstated from the family medical leave list. . LHP Tanner Banks was optioned to Charlotte. . A return for SS Tim Anderson (left middle finger surgery) is uncertain. He was expected to miss six to eight weeks after he was sidelined Aug. 9. "It's really a question of does it make sense at this point in the year to try to rush into that two-week window or let nature take its course and send him into the offseason fully healed," general manager Rick Hahn said. . RHP Michael Kopech's right shoulder is doing well, but the team has discussed when a cyst in his knee will be removed, Hahn said. Kopech (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day injured list Sept. 17.