ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Texas designated hitter Kyle Higashioka was almost put out twice by All-Star players from Detroit in a strange sequence in the third inning of the Rangers' 2-0 win Friday night. He still never scored.
Higashioka first reached base on a one-out single, a sinking liner that American League starting left fielder Riley Greene had in his glove after a sliding play on the ball that was ruled to have hit the ground.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch challenged, but the safe call stood after a lengthy replay review. The ball certainly bounced, but it was unclear on several angles if Greene had the tip of his glove under the ball when it ricocheted up into the webbing.
With Higashioka at first, Jonah Heim then hit a grounder up the middle fielded by shortstop Javier Báez on the move in front of second base. Still going forward, Báez extended his glove and the ball to his left without making contact with Higashioka, who did a sidestep and stopped seemingly out of the baseline to avoid him. The shortstop then made a throw wide of first base that allowed Heim to reach safely and Higashioka to advance to third.
Second base umpire Alfonso Marquez, also the crew chief, was explaining his call to Báez when Hinch came out for a lengthy argument.
Hinch said the explanation he got was that Báez didn't make enough of an effort to tag Higashioka.
Báez was the AL starting center fielder in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, but in the first game out of the break for the Tigers made his 28th start at shortstop — the same number of games he has started in the outfield this season.
Higashioka got stranded at third base when Josh Smith had a shallow flyout on a 3-0 pitch before Corey Seager struck out.
Seager's two-run double with two outs in the eighth inning produced the only runs. That included Cody Freeman scoring as a pinch-runner in his big-league debut when ran for Higashioka, who had doubled earlier in the inning before Smith walked.
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Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch (14) and second base umpire Alfonso Márquez exchange words during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, July 18, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in his seventh triple-double of the season, leading the Atlanta Hawks to a 111-99 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 points and Onyeka Okongwu had 22 for the Hawks, while both Zaccharie Risacher and Luke Kennard scored 12.
Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 24 points. OG Anunoby had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges added 18 points.
Ariel Hukporti, who replaced Karl-Anthony Towns (illness) in the starting lineup, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds for New York.
The Knicks got off to a quick start, taking an 11-2 lead. Trailing 30-29, the Hawks scored the final four points of the first quarter and never trailed again.
Atlanta extended its lead to 60-45 on Okongwu’s short jumper with 1:16 remaining in the second quarter before Brunson’s runner cut the Knicks’ deficit to 60-47 at halftime.
Alexander-Walker’s driving layup with 1:14 left in the third quarter gave the Hawks their biggest lead of the game at 94-68 and they were ahead 94-70 at the end of the quarter.
The Knicks scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter and pulled within 94-81 before Kennard connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to end the streak.
New York mounted a final rally following consecutive 3-pointers by Bridges to edge within 108-99, but never got any closer.
The Hawks, who have won two in a row following a season-high, seven-game losing streak, became the first team to hold the Knicks to fewer than 100 points this season.
Atlanta's Trae Young (bruised right quadriceps) and Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle injury management) each missed their third straight games.
Hawks: Visit Toronto on Saturday.
Knicks: Host Philadelphia on Saturday.
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Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu reacts after scoring a 3-point basket during first half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) passes the ball around New York Knicks center Ariel Hukporti (55) during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, bottom, and Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) battle for the ball during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, right, is defended by New York Knicks forward Og Anunoby during second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
