Tommy Pham was not a fan of the play Wilson Contreras made at home plate Sunday afternoon.
With the Milwaukee Brewers holding onto a one-run lead in the eighth inning over the Chicago White Sox, Pham tried to tie the game. But Contreras blocked the plate and tagged Pham out on a throw from Christian Yellich to end the inning and Chicago’s threat.
Contreras and Pham exchanged words before going back to their respective dugouts, but Pham was clearly still agitated as he took his place in the outfield in the bottom of the eighth. After the game, the former Boston Red Sox player was asked about the incident.
“It was a shallow fly ball to left field. You would expect the left fielder to throw the baserunner out on that play,” Pham told reporters. “The third-base coach (Eddie Rodriguez) sends you, you’ve got to go. I’m nailed out at home by a mile. I’m going to the dugout. I hear the tough guy with all the hoorah (expletive). I never start anything, but I’ll be prepared to finish it.
“There’s a reason why I do all kinds of fighting in the offseason,” he continued. Because I’m prepared to (expletive) somebody up. So, take it as what it is.”
Pham has been involved in altercations throughout his career. In 2022 while Pham was with the Cincinnati Reds, he slapped Joc Pederson over a fantasy football dispute. Pham claimed Pederson was “messing with my money” and was suspended for three games. During the same season, Pham challenged Luke Voit to a fight after a “dirty as (expletive)” slide left catcher Tyler Stephenson with a concussion.
The Brewers went on to win 6-3 and extended their win streak to five games, while the White Sox dropped to 15-45 and haven’t won since May 21 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The two teams don’t meet again this season.
