It was a moment that might have gotten away from Roansy Contreras as a rookie.
Taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning Wednesday against the Dodgers, the Pirates' right-hander got to a two-strike count against Austin Wynns, but the backup catcher got enough of a slider that was off the plate but just a bit up to flare it into center. Two batters later, Freddie Freeman followed with the second Dodger hit of the chilly evening, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate with the heart of the order due up.
With little room for error, Contreras stuck with the slider and would up retiring Jason Heyward and James Outman via fly balls. Inning over, no runs across.
"The thing you learn through the games, the more you get into situations at this level, the more you learn how to handle those and move forward," Contreras said via interpreter Stephen Morales. "I think I attribute that to the experience and the time I’ve been in the big leagues."
Those would be the final two outs of Contreras' night, who tossed six shutout innings to keep the Dodgers at bay before the Pirates could pounce on their bullpen to win 8-1 at PNC Park Wednesday. The win marks his third consecutive quality start, something he did not accomplish as a rookie.
As he talked to the media postgame, he was holding onto the team's stuffed Pirates Pikachu doll. It's not a toy, it's a trophy, one that goes to the team's pitcher of the game. It's something Contreras always had the potential to do, and one that's becoming more fully realized in his sophomore campaign.
"I think him and Mitch [Keller] are the two guys who have grown up the most [over the last year]," Derek Shelton said. "... Oscar [Marin] had to made a trip to the Dominican this winter and when he came back he said ‘this is a different kid, man. He’s really starting to grow up.’ "
A big reason for that maturation is the slider, which has been the Pirates' go-to pitch this year. According to Statcast data, they are just one of two teams to throw more sliders than four-seam fastballs, the other being the Giants. That goes for Contreras too. He threw 87 pitches Wednesday: 40 fastballs, 40 sliders and the rest curveballs.
"I feel pretty comfortable [with my slider] in any situation just to get myself out of a tough situation," Contreras said.
It also helps that Contreras has done a better job landing it in the strike zone. It's still a swing-and-miss pitch, but he can hit both sides of the plate with it, meaning he doesn't have to rely on back dooring it:
Contreras has had a few blemishes early, something that's been attributed to him not getting a full spring training because of the World Baseball Classic and still stretching out. But when he is firing on all cylinders, he can get by on two pitches if they can land for strikes.
"The guy has great stuff," Marin said during the Pirates' most recent road trip. "There’s times when you can sit over the middle of the plate and let your stuff play in zone and kind of go from there until you get your feel back."
After blowing a five-run lead Tuesday, Contreras got the ball and executed to pull off an impressive bounce-back win. Being the guy the team can rely on after a loss like that is something Contreras takes pride in.
"That’s what we’re here for," he said. "To step up."
MORE FROM THE GAME
• Before the game, Bryan Reynolds was activated off of the bereavement list. To make room on the roster, Canaan Smith-Njigba was optioned to Class AAA Indianapolis. Smith-Njigba was arguably the Pirates' top player this spring, but he hit just .125 with 16 strikeouts over 37 plate appearances which were spread out too far for the team's liking.
"He needs to play, his at bats are sparingly right now and we have other people that are performing," Shelton said. "One of my messages, or the strongest message to him was I think he's really going to help us this year and I think he's going to be a good big-league player."
Also before the game, Wil Crowe was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort. Right-handed pitcher Cody Bolton had his contract selected and was added to the roster.
Bolton, 24, was once considered one of the top pitching prospects in the system, but he missed all of 2021 with a knee injury and then bounced between a starter and reliever role last year. He made the transition to the bullpen fully this year, where the slider and changeup have played up.
To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Tyler Heineman was designated for assignment.
