Goldschmidt's career day overshadows Contreras's in Cubs 10-8 loss
Every epic needs a hero.
In the case of Arizona's 10-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday - which started at 2:50 p.m. and took 6 hours and 39 minutes to complete due to multiple rain delays - there were two heroes.
Cubs catcher Willson Contreras led his team back from 4-0 and 6-1 deficits by going 3-for-5 with 2 home runs and a career-best 6 RBI. His third hit, a seventh-inning, 2-run single up the middle with the bases loaded, gave the Cubs their first and only lead at 7-6.
"I'm still disappointed," Contreras said afterward. "I feel like I didn't do enough to help the team to win. I mean, I'd rather go 0-for-5 with a win than 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs."
The Cubs' 25-year-old rising star was outshined by Arizona slugger Paul Goldschmidt. After the Diamondbacks regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning on a 2-run single by Brandon Drury only to see the Cubs tie it 8-8 on Jon Jay's bases-loaded fielder's choice in the bottom of the inning, Goldschmidt struck again.
With one out in the ninth, the 29-year-old first baseman hit his third home run of the game, a career high, deep into the left-center field bleachers against Wade Davis to put the NL Wild Card leaders ahead to stay. He hit his first 2 home runs off Cubs starting pitcher Jose Quintana, who allowed 6 earned runs on 6 hits in 5 innings of a no decision.
J.D. Martinez followed with a home run to the left-field basket to make it a 2-run game, but the comeback-minded Cubs didn't make it easy on D'backs closer Fernando Rodney. Anthony Rizzo led off the ninth with a walk, bringing up Contreras with a chance to tie the game and match Goldschmidt with his third home run.
However, Contreras showed bunt on the first two pitches he saw from Rodney, one a called strike, the other bunted foul. He eventually struck out swinging.
"I think about who was behind me," Contreras said of the bunt attempts. "There was like two lefties. If I get the ball and get on base, that's a big opportunity for us. So I wasn't thinking of me. I was thinking of the team."
Alex Avila drew a one-out walk to bring the potential winning run to the plate for the Cubs, but Rodney struck out Ian Happ and Jason Heyward to earn his 24th save before what was left of the 39,525 fans originally on hand.
The Cubs' NL Central lead was trimmed to 1½ games due to second-place Milwaukee's 2-1 victory over St. Louis.
"It was a really hard-fought game on both sides," said Cubs manager Joe Maddon, whose team dropped its first series since the all-star break. "You have to appreciate that. It indicates why they're in the position that they're in and same thing with us. Just a very entertaining game.
"We felt good about that latter part of the game once we grabbed the lead. It just didn't play out today, but I still have a ton of faith in our bullpen."
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Scouting report
Cubs vs. Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field
TV: WGN Friday; ABC 7 Saturday; TBS Sunday
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs' Kyle Hendricks (4-3) vs. Tanner Roark (9-7) Friday at 1:20 p.m.; John Lackey (8-9) vs. TBA Saturday at 1:20 p.m.; Jon Lester (8-6) vs. TBA Sunday at 1:20 p.m.
At a glance: This is the second meeting between the Cubs and Nationals. The teams split a 4-game series in Washington June 26-29. The Nationals (63-43) enjoyed a 12-game lead in the NL East heading into Thursday's off day. They are second in the National League in team batting (.275) and fifth in ERA (4.11). The Nats are still without speedster Trea Turner, who stole 4 bases against the Cubs on June 27. He went on the disabled list June 29 with a non-displaced wrist fracture after being hit by a Pedro Strop pitch. The NL Central-leading Cubs (57-50) are 14-5 since the all-star break.
Next: Vs. Giants at AT&T Park, Monday-Wednesday
- Jerry Fitzpatrick