Diamondbacks 10, Cubs 8
Contreras’ two homers, six RBIs overshadowed by Goldschmidt’s three homers
The weight of carrying the Cubs’ offense through three rain delays lasted two hours, 35 minutes took its toll on catcher Willson Contreras.
“I felt like I’m catching 22 innings,” Contreras said Thursday after his career-best efforts fell short in a 10-8 loss to the Diamondbacks. “You don’t see those kind of games very often.”
However, the loss might be a primer for what the Cubs might be facing this weekend when Bryce Harper and the National League East-leading Nationals invade Wrigley Field.
Contreras’ two-home run, career-high six-RBI performance was overshadowed by a three-home run effort by Paul Goldschmidt, whose third home run in the ninth snapped an 8-8 tie against Wade Davis.
“He’s way up there for me and a lot of people,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Goldschmidt. “He’s got such a quick bat. He’s very quick and disciplined at the plate at the same time. And he’s also a very good first baseman. He runs well. He can steal a bag if you’re not paying attention.
“He’s a complete player.”
Contreras nearly single-handedly rallied the Cubs from two four-run deficits, starting with a pair of home runs off four-time All-Star Zack Greinke and a two-run, go-ahead single in the seventh off reliever Archie Bradley.
Contreras is batting .343 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs since July 9, and his 13 homers since June 19 are second in the majors to Giancarlo Stanton.
Contreras, however, initially passed up the chance for a game-tying homer in the ninth when he fouled off a bunt attempt for a second strike before striking out.
Contreras’ logic was that he was trying to get on base with three left-handed hitters to follow.
“Of course I’d like to see him swing away there, but the first pitch he was just taking,” Maddon said. “The second one, he might have seen the third baseman (Jake Lamb) playing back.”
Despite a .151 batting average against left-handers, Lamb haunted lefty newcomer Justin Wilson when he hit a two-run single to put the Diamondbacks ahead 8-7 in the eighth.
The production of the Diamondbacks’ lineup, which included four hits off Jose Quintana in the first (including a solo homer by Brandon Drury) stretched out in a manner similar to the Nationals.
The Cubs’ four-game sweep of the Nationals in May of 2016 at Wrigley was memorable for the fact that Harper was walked 13 times.
Maddon succeeded in taking his chances with once-slumping Ryan Zimmerman, but Zimmerman has rebounded with 24 home runs and 76 RBIs (although Zimmerman currently is in an 0-for-12 slump).
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