Wilson Contreras Hits HR In First Career At-Bat In Cubs’ 10-5 Win Over Pirates

Wilson Contreras, the Chicago Cubs’ top catching prospect, hit a two-run home run in his first Major League at-bat on Sunday in a 10-5 home victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wilson Contreras Hits HR In First Career At-Bat In Cubs’ 10-5 Win Over Pirates

The 24-year-old Venezuelan catcher connected with a first-pitch change-up, held his bat high and watched as a 104mph line drive sailed 415 feet and over the Wrigley Field ivy in the three-game series finale against Pittsburgh.

Contreras– who was called up Friday and had appeared merely as a defensive replacement– was in the bullpen when he found out he was going to pinch-hit for right-hander Kyle Hendricks in the sixth inning. The youngster stepped up to the plate and was not nervous, he said. After his hit, he received a standing ovation as the stadium erupted with cheers. He said he was trying to hit a single.

“I was ready for my first Major League at-bat, but I didn’t imagine it was going to be a homer,” Contreras said after the game about his blast, which came off Pirates right-hander A.J. Schugel. 

Contreras was met with hugs at home plate and general elation in the dugout.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” the rookie catcher said. “It’s incredible. I don’t have the words to explain how happy I am to be here.”

For the second straight game, the crowd at Wrigley gave a catcher a standing ovation. On Saturday, 39-year-old David Ross– who is in his final season– hit a go-ahead homer in the Cubs’ 4-3 win over Pittsburgh in the middle game of the series. Ross also praised Contreras on Twitter for his own spectacular hit on Sunday.

In his post-game press conference, Cubs manager Joe Maddon noted the home run was special. Then he asked, “How many times has that happened in Cubs history?”

Contreras became the 27th player in history and the first Cub to homer as a pinch-hitter in his first at-bat.

“That’s how it should be, I think,” Hendricks said. “That was awesome to see. I’m happy for him. I hope to see a lot more of it. He can definitely swing.”

Hendricks had a career-high 12 strikeouts without a walk over six innings on Sunday. He allowed only one run, a solo homer by Josh Harrison in the fourth inning, and had five homers.

Contreras is scheduled to make his first start as a catcher at Wrigley on Monday with John Lackey on the mound against the Cardinals.

“This is incredible,” Contreras said. “I can’t believe it.”

The Cubs pounded out 10 runs on 14 hits on Sunday, including consecutive solo shots from Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo in the third inning. Bryant swung away on a 3-0 fastball and crushed a line drive into the left-field basket. Rizzo took a 1-0 fastball for an opposite field shot. Both players have 17 homers this season, and both homered for the second straight night.

The Cubs have now won 10 of their last 11 meetings with the Pirates, including last year’s National League Wild Card Game.

Pittsburgh right-hander Jameson Taillon gave up four runs on eight hits and three homers, , unable to repeat his outstanding performance on Tuesday, when he fired eight shutout innings against the New York Mets. The Pirates have now dropped five straight for the second time this month and 10 of their last 11, falling three games below .500 and 15 games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs.

“We’ve got to find some answers off the mound,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Collectively, they’re going to roll up their sleeves and keep going to work. As far as shaking it up, we need to play a complete game. That would shake things up.”

Left-hander Jeff Locke will next start for the Pirates as they begin a four-game home series against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park on Monday night.

Right-hander John Lackey will next start for the Cubs on Monday night at Wrigley Field to open a three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Lackey, who left the Cardinals for the Cubs this offseason, is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 20 strikeouts in two starts against St. Louis this season.

PHOTO: CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 19: Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after hitting a two run home run on the first pitch of his MLB debut during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on June 19, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena