Pete Crow-Armstrong provides context about viral fan interaction

Cubs center-fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said Tuesday night that he “popped” not only because of his Patio exchange with a female spectator Sunday afternoon in Rate Field, but because of multiple vile insults hurled toward his mother from other spectators.

“It wasn’t just her,’’ he said. “It was her and a compilation of getting my mom called a whore [while I was on deck] for five straight a-bats. And then I popped.’’

Crow-Armstrong said Major League Baseball informed him on Monday that he was being fined for “comments made to a fan” moments after he missed what would have been an extraordinary catch. According to industry sources, the fine was for $5,000.

A female spectator who said she was holding her engagement party in the ground-level Patio section at Rate Field told the Sun-Times she booed the Cubs center-fielder and told him, ‘You suck,” with the outfielder just a few feet away.

Crow-Armstrong’s profane response was widely viewed on social media, and he apologized for his choice of words before Monday’s game.

“I’m just bummed out about the word choice and that a bunch of little kids probably find their way to social media and see that as well,’’ he said.

Crow-Armstrong has the right to appeal the fine. Asked if he intended to do so, he said, “No comment,’’ and walked out of the clubhouse.