Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) celebrates with first base coach José David Flores (58) after hitting a one-run single against the St. Louis Cardinals during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Willson Contreras gets revenge on former team as Red Sox beat Cardinals

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Apr 12, 2026 12:23 AM ET

Saturday's victory over the St. Louis Cardinals was extra sweet for one particular member of the Boston Red Sox.

Boston's win allowed first baseman Willson Contreras to get some revenge against his former team.

In his first season with the Red Sox after a December trade, Contreras made sure to show the Cardinals what they were missing before the weekend series ended. So following a 0-for-4 game in the series opener on Friday, Contreras drove in three of Boston's seven runs in their 7-1 win.

Willson Contreras saved his best game of the season to date for his former team

Contreras was 2-for-4 with three RBI, two of them coming off a fourth inning two-run double. Knowing Busch Stadium very well from his three seasons in St. Louis, Contreras sprayed a pitch all over the left field side.

Willson remembers this ballpark very well! pic.twitter.com/7QbElCHNLH
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 12, 2026

Contreras' three-RBI performance marked the most runs he's sent home in a game so far this season and only his second game with multiple RBIs.

Through 14 games and 48 at-bats, the Venezuelan native who helped his country win this year's World Baseball Classic in March, has 12 hits, two home runs, eight RBI and 11 walks while hitting .250 with a .419 OBP and a .417 slug.

He hit .257 with 20 home runs and 80 RBI in 135 games with the Cardinals in 2025 and even stole five bases.

Contreras signed a five-year deal with the Cardinals in 2023

But despite coming off of his most productive season with the Cardinals, Contreras, who signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal with St. Louis ahead of the 2023 season, was shipped to Boston on Dec. 21 in exchange for Hunter Dobbins and minor league prospects Yhoiker Fajardo and Blake Aita.

Contreras started his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, playing there for seven seasons. He captured a World Series ring as a rookie in 2016 and was named to three All-Star teams during his time with the Cubs.

And even if the 7-6 Cardinals are content with their current team, Contreras made them at least remember who they gave up on for one day.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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