On Saturday afternoon, tensions flared during the St. Louis Cardinals’ 8-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers after a collision at first base involving Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras and Brewers baserunner Chad Durbin. Contreras, who has shifted from catcher to first base this season, appeared to cause the incident by inadvertently stepping in front of Durbin, leading to a physical clash. This sparked a brief but heated exchange between Contreras and members of the Brewers’ dugout.
Post-Game Comments Escalate the Dispute
While the on-field shouting was relatively contained, Contreras took a much stronger tone in his comments after the game. Speaking to reporters, he openly challenged a Milwaukee player’s behavior during the confrontation:
“One of their players, he liked to talk from far away, but then when he got in my face, didn’t say shit. I was looking for more than that. He seems to be tougher. He’s a f—ing p—y. I’m not gonna name no names. He knows who he is.”
—Willson Contreras
When asked if he was referring to Rhys Hoskins, Contreras clarified:
“He didn’t say nothing to me. I was expecting for him to say something, but he was looking away already. Look at my face. Just say it to my face, whatever you say from the dugout. And he was looking away.”
—Willson Contreras
Hoskins Responds to Contreras’ Claims
Rhys Hoskins, a key player for the Brewers, responded by downplaying the altercation, stating the exchange was nothing more than a discussion about positional play at first base. He said,
“Just talking about playing first base.”
—Rhys Hoskins
Additional On-Field Incidents Amplify Tensions
The collision and verbal exchanges were only part of a charged game. Hoskins was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, while Contreras himself was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. Contreras then made a statement of his own with a home run in the ninth inning, during which he appeared to glare at the Brewers’ bench as he rounded first base. This game marked the Cardinals’ first win in the series after Milwaukee had claimed the first two games in their ongoing NL Central battle.
Family Names and Rivalry Add Complexity to the Situation
One layer adding intrigue to the conflict is that Willson Contreras’ brother, William Contreras, is the catcher for the Brewers. This makes it less likely the Brewers would intentionally target Willson Contreras with pitches, especially with William behind the plate. Still, Saturday’s hit-by-pitch incidents seemed questionable and have only intensified the rivalry and tension on the basepaths as the teams fight for second place in the NL Central standings.