Contreras upsets Jansen's rhythm in Cards' remarkable rally

BOSTON -- Upon leaving the rival Cubs and signing with the Cardinals in December, Willson Contreras made a couple of things perfectly clear to his new organization: He isn’t trying to make friends with anyone in the other dugout, and he has zero reservations about being that irritant who willfully gets under the skin of the opposition.

Paul Goldschmidt drew the leadoff walk that started Saturday afternoon’s ninth-inning rally, Nolan Gorman doubled to get the Cardinals within striking range and Alec Burleson hit the roller that led to the Red Sox error that produced the go-ahead runs. However, it was Contreras -- celebrating his 31st birthday and the Cardinals’ decision to return him to a catching role -- who paved the way for the stunning comeback by irritating Boston closer Kenley Jansen during a three-run ninth inning that allowed St. Louis to escape with a 4-3 victory.

Contreras, who doubled off the Green Monster in his first at-bat on Saturday, drew two pitch timer violations from Jansen in the game-turning ninth inning. He saw from the on-deck circle how the former All-Star closer was struggling with his rhythm and location, and he tried using everything within the rules to disrupt Jansen. Contreras had his eyes alert and his bat in the air, but one foot was out of the box. Twice, Jansen was called for violations because he came set before the hitter was deemed ready. Not only did Contreras draw a walk and later come around to score the tying run, but he successfully disrupted the rhythm of the game.

“That’s what the pitch clock allows you to do,” Contreras said. “I know some closers like to get their rhythm, but my job as a batter is to not give them that rhythm. So I was letting the clock come all the way down to eight [seconds]. It’s not my fault, and it’s something that I use for me. Whether it’s in my favor or not my favor, it’s for the team. It worked out today.”

Boy, did it ever work out for the suddenly surging Cardinals. A night after rallying for three runs off Jansen in the ninth inning in an 8-6 victory, St. Louis somehow turned just one hit into three runs in Saturday’s final inning. Finally distanced from the eight-game losing streak that threatened to sabotage their season, the Cards have won five of their past six contests.

“It’s hard to continue to repeat yourself when you’re going through [a losing streak], but the reality is that our clubhouse continues to believe in one another, and they trust one another,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “So in-house we feel really good right now.”

The Cardinals won despite mustering just three hits off Red Sox left-hander Chris Sale, who struck out nine over eight innings. One of those hits was a solo home run from Nolan Arenado, who homered in consecutive games for the first time since Aug. 10-12 of last season.

Contreras, who had a steady stream of teammates and coaches wish him happy birthday prior to the game, persuaded Marmol to allow him to return to his usual catching duties on Monday when the Cardinals face the rival Brewers at Busch Stadium. With the staff ERA at 5.27 with Contreras behind the plate, St. Louis on May 6 had announced a plan to temporarily use its $87.5 million free-agent signee exclusively at DH. Now after 10 days away from the position, Contreras will happily catch again on Monday.

“I don’t know if I was acting different, but [Marmol] read something in my body [language], and he went right to the point and said, ‘Are you ready to catch?’ And I said, ‘Yes, what are we waiting for?’” Contreras said. “[Not catching] wasn’t one of the decisions I made, but it was a suggestion, and I’m here to do whatever they need me to do.”

That includes irritating the opponent -- as Contreras did with Jansen. Said the Red Sox closer: “I let it throw me off. That just messed up my whole game. … But I guess hitters can mess with us.”

No offense, Contreras said, but he isn’t about to let a foe’s feelings get in his way of doing everything possible to try and spark the Cardinals.

“I have to take advantage of the clock -- especially in those situations where we’re looking to create a rally,” Contreras said. “[Jansen] has been struggling since last night throwing strikes, so I was just getting him upset, and it was nothing disrespectful. … He [got a violation] the first time, and in my head, I said, ‘He’s going to do it again.’ I just waited for it. The first time it was ball one. Then he threw me two balls, and he did it again. So that was good for us.”