The Chicago Cubs thumped the Chicago White Sox on Friday afternoon, but Willson Contreras stole the show as he made history for the North Siders.
Contreras celebrated his bobblehead day in style, as he went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and two doubles, and drove in a total of seven RBI as the Cubs beat the White Sox 11-2 to take the first game in the three-game series.
The offensive explosion, coupled with his two triple and three-hit game against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday, earned Contreras a spot in the record books.
According to STATS Inc, Contreras is the first Cubs player to collect seven or more extra base hits in a two-game span since record keeping began in 1913.
Contreras also became the first Cubs player to have four or more hits and seven or more RBI in a game at Wrigley Field since Andre Dawson accomplished the feat during his MVP season in 1988, according to Baseball Reference’s Play Index.
He is also one of only three catchers in big league history to have four extra base hits and seven or more RBI in a single game, joining Mike Piazza and George Mitterwald in that exclusive club, according to MLB.
All of that history is truly remarkable, and it only adds to what he’s accomplished this week, as he also became the first Cubs catcher in over 40 years to hit two triples in the same game.
Chicago Baseball
Contreras is now hitting .268 with three home runs and 16 RBI this season, and his offensive resurgence comes in the midst of the Cubs’ four-game winning streak. The team has scored a staggering 42 runs in those games while allowing just 11.
