Cubs' Contreras 'needed to apologize' to umpire Jordan Baker

After earning a two-game suspension for spiking his helmet at the feet of home plate umpire Jordan Baker on Friday, Chicago Cubs catcher Willson Contreras expressed his regrets to the league official before Saturday's contest.

"I needed to apologize," Contreras told Carrie Muskat of MLB.com following the game. "Nobody's perfect. That was part of my job today was to apologize to everybody and move on."

After a pitch from John Lackey to St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez was questionably ruled a ball instead of strike three Friday, Lackey took umbrage to Baker's call. On the next pitch, Martinez laced a line-drive RBI single into the opposite field.

While running to back up the play, Lackey began his tirade toward Baker and subsequently got tossed. Contreras continued to berate Baker and, following his ejection, spiked his helmet, which bounced into the umpire's leg.

"I did something wrong, and that wasn't me, that was the adrenaline of the game," Contreras said Friday.

While Cubs manager Joe Maddon told Muskat that he'd prefer to see Contreras tone down his emotions, the 25-year-old catcher rejected that wish.

"No, I won't tone it down," Contreras said. "That's my way to be, that's how I play."

Contreras was included in Saturday's lineup while he appeals the suspension.