Mikolas, Marmol ejected after Contreras injured on Happ’s backswing

ST. LOUIS — Without issuing any kind of request for forgiveness as to him purposefully hitting Cubs outfielder Ian Happ or not, Cardinals right-handed pitcher Miles Mikolas defended his proper to guard catcher Willson Contreras within the method that he did within the opener of this four-game collection between rivals.

Two pitches after Contreras acquired smacked within the helmet by Happ’s backswing and was pressured to depart the sport with a bleeding gash, Happ was plunked within the rear by Mikolas, who wished it identified that he was defending his teammate.

“In any circumstance, I’ve got Willson’s back; he’s my catcher, and I consider him a really good friend now,” mentioned Mikolas, who was ejected three batters into the 10-3 loss to the Cubs on Thursday evening. “Any single one of these guys in this locker room, I go to bat for them 100 percent. That’s something we as a team believe in, always having each other’s backs. I guess that’s what the umpires thought I was doing [purposefully hitting Happ], and it’s unfortunate there was no warning or anything.”

The instant concern was for the well-being of Contreras, who was hit in the correct facet of his helmet. Contreras went to the bottom after the hit, however he by no means misplaced consciousness. He felt blood trickling down the facet of his head, however he pressed coach Adam Olsen to remain within the recreation — a request that was denied. After being cleared of any concussion-like signs, Contreras was within the clubhouse attempting on hockey-style masks in hopes of returning to the lineup on Friday.

“I had a little headache earlier when I got hit, but there’s no concussion or anything like that, so that’s a good sign,” mentioned Contreras, who opted for glue as an alternative of stitches to shut the reduce on his head. “I feel fine, and I want to make sure I’m ready to go tomorrow.”

Contreras, a World Series champion with Chicago in 2016, left the Cubs for the Cardinals final December upon signing a five-year, $87.5 million free-agent contract. He mentioned he knew Happ didn’t hit him on objective, and the 2 of them hugged at dwelling plate earlier than Contreras left the sport.

“We played together for six years, we’re good friends and have a lot of love for him, so to see him go down and be bleeding from the head, it’s obviously a scary moment,” mentioned Happ, whose Cubs received their sixth straight recreation. “We texted a bit bit after the sport, and he is doing all proper. So it was only a scary second.”

“First of all, as a former catcher, that backswing stuff is just scary,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “It happens, and obviously Happ’s not trying to do that. [Contreras] was fighting to stay in the game, and you know how tough Willson is, being around [the Cubs]. Sent him a text and hope he’s all right. It’s just part of the game. It stinks.”

What adopted Contreras being knocked out of the sport was a sequence that resulted in Mikolas being ejected. After throwing his subsequent pitch up and in to Happ, Mikolas plunked Happ in the correct hip/rear. Following a gathering among the many 4 umpires, Mikolas was ejected.

“Even though we feel — [home-plate umpire] Ryan [Additon] felt — 100 percent that it was intentional, we are required to get together as a crew and discuss as a crew,” crew chief Lance Barksdale advised a pool reporter. “And, to a man, we all four … it was no doubt that it was intentional. And when it’s intentional, no matter where it hits him at, he’s ejected.”

Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol, who was additionally ejected after Happ was hit and Mikolas was tossed out of the sport, felt a warning ought to have been issued to each groups following the primary up-and-in pitch after the restart.

“If the explanation was that there was intent behind the first pitch, then I feel like there should have been a warning after that first pitch, and it could have saved everybody a lot of trouble,” Marmol mentioned.

For no matter motive, Contreras feels he’s been hit extra with backswings this season than any of his earlier seven MLB seasons. He mentioned backswings are at all times stunning as a result of they arrive after the pitch is already caught.

“During my whole career, I’ve been hit several times with backswings, but nothing like this one,” mentioned Contreras, who was changed by Andrew Knizner, who grew to become simply the fifth catcher in MLB historical past to hit two dwelling runs in a recreation after coming off the bench, per the Elias Sports Bureau. “This [backswing] was really bad, and it caught me really good.”