CHICAGO—No one realized it until they saw the replays on television last night, but the Rays believe they were victimized once again by A.J. Pierzynski’s legendary gamesmanship.

As Dewayne Wise attempted to steal second with two out in the third inning and Pierzynski at the plate, the catcher wagged his bat back out in front of the plate as Dioner Navarro was getting rid of the ball. Navarro said he didn’t notice it at the time, and neither did Rays manager Joe Maddon. But Maddon—a former catcher—wasn’t pleased when he saw the video.

“That’s not right,” Maddon said today. “That’s pretty weak right there.”

He later added: “You shouldn’t do that. That’s inappropriate.”

Asked if he was surprised Pierzynski would do something like that, given the catcher’s longtime reputation as a player who looks to gain any additional edge he can, Maddon replied, “No comment.”

Speaking on the topic before Game 4, Navarro shrugged it off—just A.J. being A.J.

“I didn’t even realize he did it,” said Navarro. “I didn’t even see it. THat’s the way he plays, you know. We play our way, he plays his way.”

And what was Navarro’s reaction when he saw the replay?

“I was just more like surprised,” he said. “Me and him have a good relationship. I’m pretty sure he didn’t mean to do nothing bad or nothing. That’s just him. That’s it. Bottom line, that’s him.”

You may recall Pierzynski was in the middle of a controversial play the last time the Rays visited U.S. Cellular Field that helped lead to a Rays defeat.

Maddon also was curious about two of Chicago’s three stolen bases (with Wise’s the exception) coming on curveballs. He hinted that the Whote Sox may have been peeking at the signs, given that Matt Garza throws fastballs almost exclusively.