Willson Contreras hits two-run double as Cubs spoil Pirates prospect Roansy Contreras' debut

Roansy Contreras arrived with a reputation for throwing heat, so it was no surprise that his first pitch in the major leagues was a four-seam fastball for a called strike.

That it registered 120 mph on the radar in a television graphic, however, might have been a mistake. It was closer to 97.

The 21-year-old right-hander didn’t touch triple digits but did toss three scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs in his MLB debut, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four batters.

It was spoiled when another Contreras – Cubs catcher Willson – hit a two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning to lift the Cubs to a 3-2 win Wednesday night before an announced crowd of 9,236 at PNC Park.

“In all reality, there are really no words to express or even explain the emotions that one has when you’re about to make your debut,” Contreras said through team interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “In all reality, my family and I are truly the only ones that understand how much this means to us.

“This is huge. It’s been an amazing experience. I’m very, very grateful for the Pirates’ trust in me with the opportunity, and I’m truly looking forward to coming back and continuing to help this organization win. It’s been very special. It’s filled with many emotions.”

The loss pushed the Pirates (59-99) to within one defeat of their ninth 100-loss season in franchise history, and the third since PNC Park opened in 2001. The Cubs (68-90) snapped a seven-game losing streak.

One of four players acquired from the New York Yankees in the Jameson Taillon trade in January, Roansy Contreras is ranked the Pirates’ No. 6 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline.

The 6-foot, 175-pounder from the Dominican spent most of the season at Double-A Altoona, missing two months with a right forearm strain and making only one start at Triple-A Indianapolis before being promoted. The Pirates placed rookie third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes on the 10-day injured list with sore left wrist to make room on their 28-man roster.

No wonder Pirates manager Derek Shelton promised to handle Contreras with care, using a “strict” pitch count that wouldn’t allow him to throw more than 50. Shelton ended up pulling Contreras after 46 pitches (29 for strikes). He threw 29 fastballs, per Statcast, averaging 96.3 mph and touching 97.8 and getting five called strikes and three whiffs.

“I think we handle all of these guys with their first start or their first appearance in the big league as delicately as possible, because we want the transition to be something that’s a positive experience,” Shelton said before the game. “With Ro, in his sake, the fact that he’s battled through some things this year, we will handle him very carefully.”

After giving up singles to Rafael Ortega and Willson Contreras, Roansy Contreras got Ian Happ to chase a 97-mph four-seam fastball for his first career strikeout. Then he got Matt Duffy to ground into a forceout.

Contreras walked Nick Martini to start the second inning but struck out David Bote on a 2-2 slider. Catcher Michael Perez threw out Martini while trying to steal second, and Contreras used a 97-mph four-seamer to get a called third strike on Sergio Alcantara.

“When I got on the mound, I did think I was gonna become a bit nervous,” Contreras said. “However, that wasn’t the case. I got on the mound and I was filled with a lot of excitement and emotion and I was able to go out there and give his best.”

Kyle Hendricks started the third by looking at a 95-mph fastball for a third consecutive strikeout by Contreras, who gave up a two-out double to Frank Schwindel when center fielder Bryan Reynolds misplayed the ball at the left-center fence. Contreras got Willson Contreras to ground out to third to escape the jam.

“My initial impression was: Wow, mature kid,” Shelton said. “Major league debut, end of the season, didn’t come out and overthrow or try to do too much. I don’t think he overthrew one pitch. He got through the first inning, and then after that really executed his pitches. Very impressive. A lot of positive things out of Ro. Really good first impression at the major league level.”

Lefty Sam Howard replaced Roansy Contreras in the fourth, and gave up a pair of two-out walks before striking out Sergio Alcantara. The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the fifth, when Rafael Ortega singled, reached third on Schwindel’s single and scored on Willson Contreras’ sacrifice fly.

The Pirates rallied in the sixth, when Reynolds drove in Yoshi Tsutsugo with a triple off the visiting bullpen fence – the second of the game and seventh of the season for Reynolds – to tie the game and scored on Kevin Newman’s sacrifice fly to center for a 2-1 lead.

“You don’t see it very often,” Shelton said. “The triple is something that’s gone away. I told Reynolds that if it was April, he might have had an inside-the-park homer, if his legs were underneath him.”

The Cubs responded by putting a pair of runners on base against lefty Chasen Shreve, as Trayce Thompson doubled and Schwindel drew a walk. Nick Mears came in to face Contreras, who doubled off the Clemente Wall in right field to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.

The story of the night, however, was Roansy Contreras.

“We saw a young kid that never got away from what his plan was, even when he gave up a couple hits, even when he threw six balls in a row,” Shelton said. “He came back and executed pitches, and that’s a really good sign for the Pirates moving forward.”