CHICAGO (AP) — Willson Contreras pounded his chest and pointed toward the roaring crowd. It was quite a return to Wrigley Field for a player many thought would be gone by now.
Contreras hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning in his first home game since the trade deadline, Justin Steele matched a career high with 10 strikeouts and the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 2-1 on Friday.
The Cubs looked like they were on the way to their sixth straight loss before Contreras drove an 0-1 pitch from Dylan Floro (0-1) to left-center with one out in the eighth for his 16th homer, waking up a sleepy crowd.
His blast punctuated an emotional stretch that included a standing ovation during the previous home game on July 26.
“That was amazing,” Contreras said. “I was looking forward to doing something special right there.”
Contreras, due to become a free agent, and Ian Happ got warm receptions when they batted in the first inning. Fans who thought the two All-Stars would be traded didn’t have much else to cheer until the big home run.
Contreras let loose as he rounded the bases and made his way to the dugout. Could he have envisioned a moment like this at Wrigley Field a few days earlier?
“After I didn’t get traded, for sure,” he said.
Contreras said he had difficulty focusing as the trade deadline approached. He slumped badly in July with a .149 average, one homer and four RBIs in 19 games.
“I just wanted it to be over, even if I get traded or not,” he said. “I wanted to be somewhere that I can play baseball. It didn’t happen. It’s over. I’m still here, and now, I feel relaxed.”
Chicago’s only hits prior to Contreras’ homer were singles by Nick Madrigal leading off the sixth and eighth. Happ also doubled in the eighth.
Steele…
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