Contreras continues sizzling July, but ‘perfect throw’ seals win

PHILADELPHIA — William Contreras put the Brewers ready to win Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Phillies along with his bat — after which, he emphatically sealed the cope with his arm.

In the course of the most well liked stretch of his profession, Contreras placed on one more all-around present to guide Milwaukee to a 5-3 victory at Residents Financial institution Park. The Brewers have received 5 of their previous six video games to stay 2 ½ games ahead of the Reds within the Nationwide League Central.

Contreras snapped a 3-3 tie with a go-ahead two-out RBI double within the seventh, then added one other RBI double within the high of the ninth. Nonetheless, it was the play he made within the backside half of the ninth that put an exclamation mark on his evening.

With runners on the corners and just one out, Contreras made an ideal throw to nab Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott — the potential tying run — as he tried to swipe second base.

So what did Contreras take pleasure in most?

“The protection,” Contreras mentioned with a smile. “That throw within the ninth, that was the perfect play within the sport for me.”

It’s exhausting to argue in any other case.

Stott was 16-for-17 on stolen base makes an attempt this season, and he hadn’t been caught since April 27. He had swiped 13 consecutive bases efficiently. And if that wasn’t sufficient, all of it got here with Alec Bohm on the plate, a participant who entered the evening hitting .351 (33-for-94) with runners in scoring place this season.

“It was an ideal throw,” Brewers supervisor Craig Counsell mentioned. “Actually good tag, however he put the throw proper the place it needed to be to get him.”

Bohm tipped the following pitch into Contreras’ glove for strike three to finish the sport. The catcher turned to indicate the ump the ball, then let loose a yell and pumped his arms in celebration on dwelling plate earlier than trotting out to congratulate Devin Williams on the save.

“When you’ve gotten days like that, you are very grateful,” Contreras mentioned via a translator. “With the ability to contribute each on the defensive aspect and the offensive aspect, that is a really big day.”

However days like which have seemingly develop into the norm for the 25-year-old catcher. Contreras’ three-hit evening on Wednesday marked his eighth multihit effort in 12 video games this month. It was his second three-hit sport in his previous 4, matching his whole from his first 72 video games.

In July, Contreras is hitting .412 (21-for-51) with seven extra-base hits and 9 RBIs in 12 video games. The 21 hits are by far his most in any 12-game stretch of his younger profession.

“He was everywhere in the sport tonight, for certain — offensively, defensively,” Counsell mentioned. “He made his affect felt in each a part of the sport. He is been taking part in at a extremely excessive degree for some time now.”

However once more, it’s the protection that Contreras takes probably the most delight in — and for good motive.

Over the earlier two seasons with the Braves, Contreras racked up -11 Defensive Runs Saved. That ranked 56th out of 64 catchers with at the least 500 innings behind the plate.

Quick ahead to 2023 and Contreras entered Wednesday evening with 7 DRS — probably the most by any catcher within the Majors.

“I am positively very pleased with my protection this 12 months. It is a huge change from final 12 months to this 12 months, so I am pleased with what I’ve accomplished,” Contreras mentioned. “However we have nonetheless acquired over two months of the season left, so you continue to should work and proceed to search out methods to get higher.”

Contreras can also be tied for second in Statcast’s blocking metric and tied for fourth in framing.

“He is simply tremendous athletic,” mentioned starter Colin Reawho held the Phillies to 3 runs (two earned) over 5 innings. “He can actually do every little thing. Throughout, he is only a nice participant.”

And the Brewers are assured he’s solely going to get higher.

“That is his second full 12 months within the league — in order that’s simply one thing to recollect, too,” Counsell mentioned. “It is a younger participant, it is a exhausting place to contribute from on each side of the ball and it is a participant that is at a place that, historically, it takes a short time and it is a powerful place. He is accomplished a heck of a job and we’re fortunate to have him.”

As for the show of emotion after the ultimate out, Counsell is hoping to see much more of that down the stretch.

“I imply, you are the catcher and also you throw out the tying run within the ninth inning,” Counsell mentioned, “you deserve it.”