D-backs’ Bradley channels Suns’ Booker, tells off visiting Dodgers fans
Aug 8, 2017, 11:51 PM | Updated: Aug 9, 2017, 11:27 am
PHOENIX — Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley issued quite the message to Dodgers fans in the middle of Arizona’s dramatic 6-3 win Tuesday.
Then, he issued another after the game while explaining his emotional in-game outburst.
“I’ve already been on Twitter reading stuff, people (saying), yeah, we’re so many games back. That’s not the point of what happened,” Bradley said.
That’s when the baseball pitcher hearkened back to Suns guard Devin Booker explaining in April why he shouted “This is our house!” in the middle of an NBA game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“This is our home field,” Bradley said. “I was at the game when Devin Booker was talking about not letting Russell Westbrook get that triple-double. It’s the same thing. You look up, you see the blue in the stands. This is our house, man. I don’t care how many games back we are, I don’t care if we’re the worst team in baseball.
“It has nothing to do with the standings, it has nothing to do with the playoff race. It had to do with tonight and our fans being better than theirs.”
Bradley pitched the entirety of the eighth inning, allowing a hit but shutting down Los Angeles with just seven pitches, all strikes, to follow teammate Jake Lamb’s go-ahead grand slam a half-frame prior.
Like Booker, he let out a “This is our house!” before heading into the dugout.
Archie Bradley: "This is our house! Let's go!" pic.twitter.com/MLSVQg6Fgu
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) August 9, 2017
Like Booker, Bradley wasn’t pleased with a good chunk of the 24,810 in attendance cheering for the visitor.
The Suns, whose fate was all but set on April 7, welcomed Westbrook to Talking Stick Resort Arena with the point guard ready to break Oscar Robertson’s NBA record for the most triple-doubles in a single season.
The cheers for Westbrook to reach the milestone weren’t pleasing to Booker, who scored 37 as Phoenix held Westbrook two assists shy of his goal.
“I’m at my home arena and you hear chants to another guy. I totally respect Russell,” Booker said after the Suns’ win. “He brings it each and every night. You can’t discredit what he’s been doing. I’m sure he’s gonna pass Oscar for the most triple-doubles, but I just didn’t want that to be here.
“I took that personal. I’m sure if someone’s chasing a record in OKC, he’d feel the same way.”
Bradley understands the feeling.
“I became a really big fan of Devin Booker after that. Like I said, I don’t care how bad your team is, when your’e playing on your home turf, you want to win. And you want your fans to have your back. You don’t want them cheering for another team, another player,” the pitcher said Tuesday. “It was nothing disrespectful to the Dodgers. It was just the emotions coming out of me.”
Bradley already had Dodgers fans hitting his Twitter mentions following the D-backs win. With his postgame comments, here’s to guessing he’ll receive plenty more.
He seems fine with that.
“Keep at-ing me,” Bradley said. “I love it.”
