The Associated Press
Mike Cranston
CHICAGO—Prized prospect Willson Contreras received a standing ovation as he made his way to the plate in the sixth inning for his first major-league at-bat.
One pitch later, the Wrigley Field crowd was back on its feet demanding a curtain call.
Contreras crushed the first pitch he saw in the big leagues for a two-run home run, and Kyle Hendricks struck out a career-high 12 in six innings, as the Chicago Cubs completed a sweep of the fading Pittsburgh Pirates with a 10-5 victory last night.
“It’s incredible,” a smiling Contreras said. “I don’t have the words to explain how happy I am.”
Contreras, called up from Triple-A on Friday, pinch hit for Hendricks in the sixth and sent A.J. Schugel’s change-up an estimated 415 feet to centre.
The cheering didn’t let up until the 24-year-old Venezuelan catcher hopped out of the dugout and tipped his cap.
A fan even returned the ball to Contreras, which sat in his locker.
“It’s a dream come true,” he said.
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit consecutive home runs in the third while Javier Baez added a solo shot for the Cubs—all off rookie Jameson Taillon (1-1).
Addison Russell added a two-run shot in the seventh for the Cubs, who now have eight homers in two games.
Josh Harrison’s solo home run was the lone blemish off Hendricks (5-6), who walked none and allowed seven hits.
His previous career high was nine strikeouts.
“I never go into a game trying to do that, honestly,” Hendricks said.
“I think today was just the change-up. That was the answer.”
Starling Marte returned from injury and had a two-run triple off Adam Warren in a three-run seventh for the Pirates, who now have lost 17-of-22 and fell 15 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central.
Chicago’s overall division lead jumped to 12.5 games over St. Louis, with Contreras providing the latest feel-good story.
“I was looking for the right spot,” said Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon.
Contreras arrived from Iowa on Friday and played one inning of defence.
Maddon announced before the game that Contreras would get his first start at catcher today.
Rizzo added two RBI singles for the Cubs, who completed their seventh series sweep of the season.
Chicago jumped on Taillon after the rookie took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in a victory Tuesday against the N.Y. Mets.
“The ball was up today. He wasn’t in position to get groundball outs,” noted Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle.
“Thirty-three pitches in the first inning made him work more than we wanted him to.”
Bryant and Rizzo crushed misplaced fastballs—marking the fifth time this season they’ve homered in the same game.
That was overshadowed by Contreras becoming the first Cubs’ player to homer on the first pitch he saw since Jim Bullinger in 1992.
Of course, Contreras is still a rookie—and the team’s No. 3 catcher. Once the curtain call ended, he had to get back to warming up pitchers.
“That was funny,” Contreras said.
“After I hit a homer, they say, ‘I know you’re happy but you have to go back to the bullpen.’”
Elsewhere in the NL, Atlanta blanked New York 6-0, Miami beat Colorado 3-0, Arizona downed Philadelphia 5-1, L.A. edged Milwaukee 2-1, and San Diego doubled Washington 6-3.
San Francisco beat Tampa Bay 5-1, Houston blanked Cincinnati 6-0, and Texas topped St. Louis 5-4 in interleague play.
