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Maddon: Cubs fans, keep your hands in your pockets

The baskets below the Wrigley Field bleachers are getting quite the workout lately, with home runs landing in the mesh regularly. Cubs manager Joe Maddon wants to remind fans to keep their hands to themselves.

Cubs shortstop Addison Russell hit a home run in the sixth inning of Saturday's 9-7 victory over the Braves at Wrigley Field.

The homer tied the game at 7-7 and brought the Cubs back from a 7-3 deficit.

However, Russell came close to possibly losing the home run because a fan in the first row of the bleachers reached over the basket and got a hand on the ball.

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez asked for a replay, and the home run call was upheld, but it was close. If replay officials had ruled otherwise, Russell would have been sent back to second with a double.

Fan interference was called last Tuesday when a fan reached over the basket and touched a ball hit by the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, who was sent back to second base.

Fans interfering with balls in play are ejected from the ballpark.

“Cub fans, just keep your hands in your pockets until the ball goes over the wall,” said Cubs manager Joe Maddon. “That's something that seems to be an issue at the ballpark here for several years. I was wondering if the guy had a Braves shirt on or not.”

The bleachers were rebuilt this season, but a Cubs spokesman said there were no changes to the size, depth or configuration of the baskets.

Not waiting around:

Anthony Rizzo is one of the game's most selective hitters, with an on-base percentage of 401, fueled by 60 walks and 24 hit-by-pitches.

However, Rizzo continues to do damage by hitting first pitches. His home run Saturday (No. 25 for the season) came on a first pitch. He entered the game with a line of .448/.459/.879 when the count is 0-0.

“There's not a thing wrong with going after the first pitch,” Joe Maddon said. “He's really good at working an at-bat mentally. He'll say things to me as he's going to the on-deck circle. It's very calculated. It's very well thought out.

“He's really mature beyond his years as a hitter and as a baseball player. He's done a great job. But he's really good at figuring out what the pitcher is trying to do.”

Rizzo said it's all a matter of perspective.

“It just all depends on the situation,” he said. “You look for a good pitch to hit, and I was lucky I got that (home run) up in the air.”

This and that:

The Cubs are a National League-best 18-4 since July 29. At 70-51, they are the fourth team in the major leagues to reach 70 wins ... Reliever Clayton Richard has a 1.32 ERA in his last 5 appearances. He worked a perfect inning Saturday.

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