Cardinals' Willson Contreras Apologizes to Cubs After Benches Cleared Following Game

St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras apologized to the Chicago Cubs for his reaction to a ninth-inning hit-by-pitch that was followed by a bench-clearing situation after the final out of Thursday's 3-0 loss.

"My reaction was bad. I apologize to the Chicago Cubs for the way I reacted," Contreras said after the game, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Contreras added, per Goold, "I don't want to fight them."

The Cardinals got a second runner on base in the bottom of the ninth when Cubs closer Daniel Palencia hit Contreras with an 100-mile-per-hour fastball.

Palencia recovered to strike out three straight batters and help the Cubs shut out the Cardinals for a second straight game.

Contreras started out the game by being forced into a swinging strikeout by Shota Imanaga to end the first inning.

Contreras earned a walk from Imanaga in the fourth and another from Caleb Thielbar in the seventh, but was unable to get past third base.

He was then hit by a pitch on his final at-bat of the game. The broadcast showed him chirping at Palencia during his walk to first base and throughout the remainder of the ninth.

Palencia said after the game that making contact with Contreras had been an accident (h/t Marquee Sports Network.)

"I don't want to hit that guy. I've been watching that guy since I was a kid," Palencia said, per Martínez. "I really feel proud for him, what he's doing for this game. The moment was intense, close game. I think it was just that."

Palencia continued, per Marquee Sports Network's Andy Martínez: "Maybe he thinks it was on purpose, but it wasn't, so, like I said, he's Venezuelan, too. I don't want to hit that guy. I don't to hit any guy in this game. I just want to do my job."

Contreras was limited to 84 games during the 2024 season due to injuries, including a fractured finger suffered on a hit-by-pitch thrown by the Minnesota Twins' Pablo López.

The Cardinals moved the former catcher to first base ahead of the season, a change that was made in the hope of keeping Contreras healthier in 2025, according to MLB.com's John Denton. Contreras has since appeared in all but five of the Cardinals' games this season while slashing .246/.330/.414 heading into Thursday.