Cubs manager Joe Maddon explained his unorthodox decision to move slugger Anthony Rizzo into the leadoff spot as an attempt “to see if he provides a spark somehow.” Rizzo wasted no time doing just that.
The Chicago first baseman on Tuesday smacked a solo home run, his 14th of the season to dead center off the Mets’ Zack Wheeler on the second pitch he saw in his first-ever at-bat as a leadoff man.
Rizzo wasn’t done there. He came up again in the top of the second with the bases loaded and fought back from 0-2 in the count to draw a walk and bring another run in before Ian Happ followed with a grand slam.