CHICAGO (AP) – Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle criticized Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez on Thursday for his bat flip on a popup, and the young slugger brushed off the comments by the former major leaguer.
Baez homered twice for the second straight day in Chicago’s 13-5 victory over Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. But he also flipped his bat high into the air when he popped up to shortstop Jordy Mercer in the seventh inning.
The 25-year-old Baez acknowledged after the win it was a mistake and that a teammate had talked to him about the display.
Hurdle was still rankled by the move before the Pirates’ 6-1 victory in the series finale.
