Javier Báez and the Detroit Tigers were feeling good.
The shortstop, who was playing in his first series back in Chicago since being traded away by the Cubs last year, blasted a two-run homer in the first inning to give Detroit an early two-run lead against the White Sox on Sunday.
Chicago fans showered Báez with boos and jeers all series long, but he looked unfazed, perhaps even motivated by the negative energy the crowd was sending his way. His home run on Sunday, which left his bat at 107.4 mph, was his second of the series.
Báez took a moment to admire his work, standing at the plate and watching the ball soar through the air before it eventually cleared the left-field wall. And after he finished jogging around the bases, Báez turned around and pointed to the back of his jersey as he walked into the dugout.
But that was all the offense the Tigers were able to muster in their 4-2 loss to the White Sox, as they wasted a solid outing from Drew Hutchison, who allowed two runs over six innings of work.
The game was tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, and with two outs, Luis Roberts popped a ball into shallow left field. Robbie Grossman, who hadn't committed an error in 440 games, lost the ball in the sun and had it bounce off his glove.
Gregory Soto came in trying to clean up the mess, but he allowed AJ Pollock and Eloy Jiménez to knock in two, ultimately proving to be the difference.
The Tigers have now lost two straight after winning their previous six.
