DETROIT -- Jose Cabrera said he's OK after being hit in the face by Nicholas Castellanos' batting helmet Wednesday night in a crazy case of misdirected -- or literally, redirected -- frustration.
Castellanos was lifted for pinch-runner Andrew Romine after an eighth-inning single with a 4-0 Tigers lead. Castellanos clearly wasn't happy about the move, and after returning to the Tigers' dugout, he seemed to try to slam his helmet into the rack. Replays showed that when he did, the helmet bounced back, flying past him and hitting Cabrera, who was standing behind him.
Cabrera told reporters that the helmet hit him under his eye, but that he was fine. He walked into the clubhouse Thursday morning with no major bruise apparent.
"It's not my season right now," he joked.
The Tigers also joked with Castellanos on Thursday, shielding their faces when he got back to dugout after his second-inning home run.
Manager Brad Ausmus said after the game that he understood Castellanos' frustration and that players throw helmets all the time. Even so, Ausmus said he talked with Castellanos about it afterward.
"Nick's a competitive guy," Ausmus said. "He wants to run the bases. It was my call to put Romine in there. He was upset that he got pinch-run for because of his competitive nature.
"Quite frankly, he's actually a decent baserunner. The fact of the matter is that Romine was going to play, and Romine might be our best baserunner, so if I'm going to make the move, I might as well make the move right there."
Quick hits
• James McCann returned to the Tigers' clubhouse Thursday morning after two rehab games with Triple-A Toledo, and the catcher said he's ready to go when Detroit decides to activate him. McCann, who went on the 10-day disabled list two weeks ago with an open wound on the side of his left hand, went 4-for-4 with four singles and three RBIs Wednesday night for the Mud Hens. He might have to wear a blister pad on his hand, he said, but shouldn't be limited. He's expected to be activated Friday to face Red Sox lefty Christopher Johnson.
• According to Elias Sports Bureau, Buck Farmer is the first pitcher in Major League history to win his first two starts in a season with scoreless outings after entering that season with an 0-5 career record or worse. Farmer, who tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings in his season debut against the White Sox on May 27, beat the Angels on Wednesday night with 6 2/3 scoreless.