Prospect Contreras homers in 1st at-bat, Cubs sweep Pirates

“That’s twice, I think, he’s done something that insane and be safe”, manager Joe Maddon said. Their win, combined with a St. Louis Cardinals loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday, has ballooned their lead out to their largest ever, and it has left them with a 99.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs.

Chicago’s overall division lead jumped to 12 1/2 games over St. Louis with Contreras providing the latest feel-good story. Hendricks has not fared well against the Pirates, allowing 14 runs last season in 19 innings with five home runs.

“They do (have young talent) and they have old talent that’s producing as well”, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

Everyone from the fans, to the players, and even the announcers were ecstatic as Contreras rounded the bases to be greeted at home by Baez, who thankfully heeded Maddon and Jones’ words. There’s a little funk regarding how he throws the ball and how it comes out of his hand.

Addison Russell’s two-run homer capped a four-run eighth inning as the Cubs kept rolling and created more distance between themselves and the Cardinals, who trail by 12 ½ games and the Pirates, who fell 15 games back in what’s becoming a one-team race in the Central.

“The whole game, I was ready for that”, Profar said. “They fouled off some competitive pitches and they hit some decent pitches early”.

“We came out swinging the bats today”, Hendricks said.

Baez came through with a neat stop to rob Sean Rodriguez in the sixth when he slid to his left and fired to first from his knees.

And then Contreras put on his catcher’s gear so he could warm up some relievers.

“It’s an awesome feeling – just incredible”, said Contreras, who said he stepped to the plate looking to make solid contact.

Contreras joined Jim Bullinger (1992) as the only Cubs to hit a homer on the first career pitch they see. “I’m still sky high”.

Clayton Richard and Adam Warren allowed the Pirates to get back into the game in the top of the seventh, surrendering three runs.

Matt Wieters homered and drove in four runs as Baltimore outslugged Toronto 11-6 to provide right-hander Chris Tillman with his ninth straight victory. With one out, he appeared to be picked off first base. Bryant beat a tag at the plate on Ben Zobrist’s fielder’s choice grounder to make it 8-4.

Conforto never advanced, and the right-hander dominated NY the rest of the afternoon, spoiling Jacob deGrom’s birthday as a Father’s Day crowd of 41,576 booed the home team repeatedly. Jameson Taillon gets the nod, and he’s 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA and eight strikeouts this season.

Their nearest pursuers the Seattle Mariners lost 2-1 to the Boston Red Sox after Mookie Betts’ clinching homer and David Price giving up only one run in eight innings.

Ross cut it to 3-2 in the fourth when he squeezed in a run, and Bryant tied it in the fifth with his drive well beyond the left-field bleachers.