Article Author:
Reuters
Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras was unsure if he would still play a home game in Chicago when the trade deadline approached Tuesday. The emotion Contreras displayed when he scored the go-ahead home run was clear.
Contreras and the Cubs enjoyed his hit in the clutch in a game they might not have expected to face in a brawl in Miami Saturday afternoon. I'm aiming for his 5th consecutive win.
"I just wanted it to end, traded or not," Contreras said. "I wanted it to be a place where baseball could be played. It didn't happen. It's over. I'm still here and I'm relaxed now."
Contreras said. After an emotional response to fans on July 26, he won 5-26 in his seven-game away trip for Chicago. One last chance to see the three-time All-Star and pending free agency firsthand before joining former teammates Anthony Rizzo, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant as former Cubs.
Instead, Contreras remained motionless and received a warm reaction on Friday afternoon, when in the eighth inning he hit two runs to lead the Cubs to his 2–1 win. Chicago's offense managed only four hits on the day.
"It was amazing," said Contreras. “I was looking forward to doing something special there.”
Miami manager Don Mattingly said of Contreras. When it's this close, one ball can change the game."
The Marlins will not only try to keep Contreras from getting beaten again, but also find all sorts of attacks. I'm doing it. 500 within two games on July 14, the Marlins have dropped 13 of his 18 games, with Jazz regulars his Chisholm Jr., Brian Anderson, and Jorge Sorrell lining up. It was on the disabled list. On Friday, Miami scored seven hits on Joey Wendle's RBI his single in the seventh inning, but had only one run. The Marlins recorded his 13 strikeouts and at least his 7th skid in his 18 games where he fanned 10 times.
Like Contreras, Miami right-hander Pablo Lopez (7-6, 3.41 ERA) was rumored to be in the trade as teams such as the New York Yankees showed interest. Instead, he remains a Marlin and hopes to bounce back from one of the worst outings of his career. , had six runs and a career-high 12 hits in 2 2/3 innings in a 9–3 loss. It was his eighth time a right-hander has allowed at least six runs, and his second this season.
Lopez has gone 1-2 with a 7.36 ERA in his last three starts, but he wants to continue his success against the Cubs.
Drew Smiley (3-6, 4.42 ERA) started for Chicago. He's 1-1 in 4 games and a 6.06 ERA in four innings of a 5-4 loss in San Francisco on July 30 since missing more than a month with a strained left oblique. 50}
Smiley went 3-1 with a 3.04 ERA and appeared in 5 games (4 starts) against the Marlins.
– Field Level Media
