Diamondbacks outfielder Tommy Pham had an amazing Game 2 on Saturday night as he went 4-for-4 and scored two runs, but his performance was slightly overcast by a comment Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux made towards Pham.
Fox cameras caught Maddux saying “Atta boy, you dumb f---!” towards Pham after he was picked off on second base in the sixth inning.
After the game, Pham told USA Today Sports’s Bob Nightengale how “shocked” he was that his former pitching coach (while both were on the Cardinals) would say something like that towards him.
“I was just a little shocked that he would say that,” Pham said. “I get it. Heat of the moment. But he knows me. He knows me well. I’m just shocked at that. I would expect him to be a little bit better.”
Maddux also spoke to USA Today Sports after the clip went viral and expressed his apologies to Pham.
“He’s a pro’s pro, who plays the game the right way,’’ Maddux said via text. “Nothing but respect for Tommy and everyone on the field. Tommy is a class player and great teammate.”
Pham admitted that he didn’t have plans to speak to Maddux about what happened, but that he’ll “try to let my game do my talking” by beating the Rangers in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night.
