PITTSBURGH聽鈥 There are many words that Willson Contreras could use to describe the feeling of his hand being crushed once again by a pitch. He鈥檚 had plenty of opportunities to practice; he鈥檚 undoubtedly yelled a few in the past week.
But the one he chose late Tuesday night, as a fresh bruise throbbed on his tenderized left hand, should stress his rising level of concern.
Scary.
鈥淓very hit by pitch is scary,鈥 Contreras said. 鈥淚 wish it hit me in a different spot. Every hit by pitch on the hand is really scary. 鈥 Probably, it can be bad luck. It can be they're trying to go in and off the plate. And we鈥檙e not protecting anybody, (so) that鈥檚 going to keep happening.鈥
For the second time in a week, Contreras was struck by a pitch at 99 mph or faster on his left hand. A week ago, a Cubs reliever slammed a fastball into Contreras鈥 knuckles, and on Tuesday, Pittsburgh鈥檚 flame-throwing phenom Paul Skenes sent a 99-mph fastball up and in on Contreras that thudded into the side of the same hand. Contreras would stay in the game to run the bases and participate in one of the most consequential plays of the Cardinals鈥 1-0 loss to the Pirates.
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The entire time he was on the bases he opened and closed and flexed his hand in an attempt to dissipate the pain. It persisted and he was removed from the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. X-rays taken at PNC Park did not reveal any fracture, and he was diagnosed with a bruise that remained sore hours later and Contreras expected to keep him out of the lineup for Thursday鈥檚 series finale.
鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating. It gets old,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 know they鈥檙e not trying to hit me in the hand. I鈥檓 a human being. It gets old. I want to play. I want to stay in the game. I don鈥檛 know what to say about it.
鈥淧rotect myself, and hopefully somebody protects me.鈥
Contreras has been hit by a pitch 14 times already this season. That leads the National League by three and is tied with Ty France and Randy Arozarena for the most in the majors. The Cardinals, with a less high-octane and more contact-oriented veteran pitching staff, are tied for hitting the second-fewest batters, at 24. Contreras missed time a year ago with two fractures, and he has talked candidly in the past week about his fear of another fracture in his hand 鈥 and the time he would miss.
The bruises, aches, and shorter-term injuries are already mounting for the Cardinals.
And it鈥檚 showing up on the scoreboard.
The same game that Lars Nootbaar (ribcage) returned to the lineup, Nolan Arenado (sprained finger) did not start and Contreras (bruised hand) left after the fourth inning. Jordan Walker (appendicitis) joined the team in Pittsburgh for a checkup, but he鈥檚 still several days away from a return and may not be in the lineup during this road trip. Ivan Herrera (hamstring) won鈥檛 be either as he continues a steady return from a torn muscle. The schedule through June was taxing, and the injuries in the past week have been draining. Of the players mentioned earlier in this paragraph all but Nootbaar bat right-handed, so it鈥檚 no revelation the wheezing Cardinals have struggled in the past week against lefties.
Left-handed starters have held the Cardinals to a single run in their previous four starts against them, and the Cardinals have been shutout a total of four times in the past week.
Those are their only four losses in the week.
Skenes is the first right-hander to join the group, but it was not for lack of chances.
The Cardinals got a runner to third base on Skenes in the first inning with one out. In the third inning, back-to-back singles by Victor Scott II and Brendan Donovan put runners at the corners with no outs. Both innings fizzled without a run scoring.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e facing a guy like him, and it鈥檚 hard when you pass up opportunities,鈥 manager Oliver Marmol said. 鈥淲e got doubled-off. We didn鈥檛 get the bunt down. Left the runner on third. Those are all things that are tough that you鈥檙e hoping to execute at a higher rate. 鈥 You鈥檙e facing one of the best arms. You鈥檙e hoping to execute. That rate goes down against better pitchers.鈥
While Andre Pallante sped through innings on nine pitches like he did in the third, Skenes had to hopscotch through trouble and saw his pitch count climb to 75 after four innings. He would allow five runs and strikeout five batters and fail to get a win for the sixth time against the Cardinals, but Skenes鈥 outing would also be scoreless. The right-hander got fortunate with a lineout to shortstop in the third that caught Donovan away from first base for an inning-ending double play. And he got help from Tommy Pham in left field in the fourth.
That was the same inning Skenes pegged Contreras.
Contreras鈥 Spidey sense buzzed early in the plate appearance.
Skenes wedged a first-pitch, 98.6-mph fastball on the inner edge of the plate. It was off the plate and close to moving Contreras鈥 feet. It was also called a strike.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 the way the league is pitching to me, and they鈥檙e coming in and off the plate,鈥 Contreras said. 鈥淭he umpires keep calling pitches off the plate. At the same time, it鈥檚 not the pitcher鈥檚 fault. If they get the location off the plate, and it鈥檚 a strike, they鈥檙e going to go back there again, back in there. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 anybody鈥檚 fault. He鈥檚 getting pitches of the plate.鈥
Skenes went back 鈥渢here鈥 twice.
With a 2-2 count, Skenes drove a 99.6-mph fastball up and in on Contreras, who stands close to cover the outside of the strike zone. The former All-Star catcher fouled off the high-and-in offering. The next pitch, a 99.3-mph fastball, was further inside and hit Contreras鈥 hand.
He was met at first base by Marmol and an athletic trainer. The game paused for a lengthy stretch as they tended to Contreras, and he showed the pinky-side of his left hand for where the ball struck him. Contreras remained in the game to run for himself to determine if the pain would relent and the hand cooperate with him staying the game. Instead of replacing him on the bases with speedier Garrett Hampson, the Cardinals gave him that time because he鈥檚 remained in the game before, and they were already down Arenado, Herrera, and Walker.
The inning went sideways when Jose Fermin popped up a bunt.
On their way to 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position 鈥 including 0 for 2 in the ninth inning against closer David Bednar 鈥 the Cardinals were 0 for 6 when catcher Pedro Pages came up against Skenes in the fourth inning. Contreras was at second. Pages pulled a single to left, and Contreras was off to the races. A pitcher like Skenes invites aggressive choices on the bases when a scoring opportunity surfaces, and Contreras was waved around third. Left fielder Pham鈥檚 throw home beat Contreras by at least a stride.
The final out of the inning was at home plate.
That was the first of two outs at home for the Cardinals 鈥 the second came in the ninth and would have tied the game. Contreras was the third of six Cardinals to reach third base and not score. He was tagged out by Pittsburgh鈥檚 catcher Henry Davis, who four innings later hit the sacrifice fly that brought home the game鈥檚 lone run. Contreras was back from X-rays by then, but the Cardinals, their lineup thinned, struggled to find a way back in the game.
鈥淲e need to get to the off day,鈥 Marmol said.
Post-Dispatch sports columnists Jeff Gordon and Lynn Worthy talk about the barrage of two-run homers the Cardinals inflicted on the Cubs as their offense came to life.
Photos: Cardinals drop second straight game at Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes catches a bunt popup hit by 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jose Fermin during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes reacts after watching catcher Henry Davis tag out 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras at home during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, left, tags out 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras, right, at home during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras reacts after getting hit by a pitch by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras reacts after getting hit by a pitch by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Willson Contreras, right, is examined by a team trainer after getting hit by a pitch by Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Cardinals third baseman Nolan Gorman fields a ball hit by the Pirates鈥 Isiah Kiner-Falefa before throwing him out at first base during the sixth inning of a game Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Caleb Ferguson delivers during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Isaac Mattson delivers during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, right, tags out 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jose Fermin, left, at home during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jose Fermin is upended after getting tagged out at home during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar reacts after getting the final out of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar reacts after getting the final out of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis, right, tags out 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jose Fermin, left, at home during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

最新杏吧原创 Cardinals' Jose Fermin is upended after getting tagged out at home during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher David Bednar, right, celebrates with catcher Henry Davis, left, after getting the final out of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Henry Davis hits a sacrifice fly during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes, left, is greeted by manager Don Kelly, right, after scoring during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the 最新杏吧原创 Cardinals, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Pittsburgh.