Temperatures and tensions are high in St. Louis on Wednesday. Don’t believe us? Just ask Madison Bumgarner and Willson Contreras.
The St. Louis Cardinals are putting the boots to the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon. St. Louis has been slow out of the gate, but the bats broke out in a big way. Arizona, who had been off to a great start, is likely to lose and take one on the chin. But apparently, Bumgarner won’t just let them go down easily.
Bumgarner and Contreras, no strangers to each other over the years, were the subject of an on-field confrontation at Busch Stadium.
Bumgarner dealt a 1-0 pitch to Contreras in the third inning with the score tied at 3. Contreras took a big cut at it and fouled it away. After the former Chicago Cubs star went to collect himself, he turned his head around.
Then the Cardinal catcher turned around and engaged in a staredown. Bumgarner then decided to express frustration towards his opponent.
Then, Bumgarner flared up and appeared to say, “Shut the **** up, you *****, **** you,” to Contreras.
After, Contreras expressed serious displeasure with whatever else he said. The cameras on Bally Sports STL’s telecast picked up that he was verbally distressed. Contreras could be seen arguing with D’Backs catcher José Herrera.
Later in the at-bat, Willson drew a walk. He punctuated the situation with a purposeful and sensational bat flip on the drawn walk.
Bumgarner then took exception to it and mouthed off to Willson again. But by the time he got to first, Contreras looked over it and didn’t even give the pitcher a passing glance. And so, the confrontation was over.
A wild day for Madison Bumgarner and Willson Contreras.
