Cubs' Rizzo taking good with bad
It was a mixed-bag Thursday for Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in a 7-6 loss to the San Francisco Giants at Wrigley Field.
Rizzo hit his third home run of the season, a 2-run line drive to left-center in the Cubs' 4-run third inning. However, he ended the game by taking a called third strike against Giants closer Sergio Romo with a man on base.
Rizzo looked upset with home-plate umpire Kerwin Danley at the end of the game.
“I just disagreed,” Rizzo said. “He made a good pitch, though. It's a situation you want to be in there. I just didn't come through today.”
Rizzo is 6-for-32 (.188), with half his hits being home runs. All 3 homers have come on first pitches. Rizzo can be a patient hitter, but he has shown he's not afraid to go after a first-pitch strike if he feels he can drive the ball.
“You go up there looking for a pitch to hit and just being selectively aggressive,” he said. “Yeah, I don't know. First pitches. Hopefully they keep throwing me first-pitch strikes.”
Goat stuff:Not much was said by the Cubs about the goat's head that was delivered to team chairman Tom Ricketts on Wednesday.Police were investigating the incident as a matter of intimidation.#8220;It's just obviously an unfortunate fan doing something pretty stupid,#8221; manager Dale Sveum said.Ready to play:Second baseman Darwin Barney will have the stitches removed from his left knee Friday and play in a rehab assignment for Class AAA Iowa Saturday-Monday.Barney is expected to come off the disabled list in time for Tuesday night's series opener against Texas at Wrigley Field. He has been on the DL since April 1 with a lacerated left knee, an injury he suffered in the exhibition finale at Houston on March 30.This and that: The Cubs committed 2 errors. Entering Thursday night's action, they led the major leagues, with 10. #8230; Starlin Castro and Welington Castillo each have five-game hitting streaks. #8230; Nate Schierholtz has hit safely and scored a run in six of eight games.