Watch: Chicago Cubs' Rizzo gets into Olympic spirit with great catch

It seems everybody is into the spirit of the Olympics these days.

That goes for the Chicago Cubs and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. He did it again Tuesday night, hopping up onto the wall in foul territory to catch a popup by the Milwaukee Brewers' Keon Broxton in the fifth inning. Almost exactly a year ago, Rizzo climbed the tarp to make a catch, also against the Brewers and with Jason Hammel pitching for the Cubs.

“That's twice now; it was unbelievable,” said Hammel, the winning pitcher in the Cubs' 4-1 victory in the night portion of Tuesday's doubleheader. “I remember the last one like it was yesterday and that one (Tuesday) was even better, especially in Olympics time.

“He stuck the landing. It was a great dismount. I don't know what you would call it, whether it's the pommel horse or the vault, whatever. That was unbelievable.

“For him to know that corner so well, that's a tough corner to make plays. To be in the right place at the right time, on the ledge, that's a great play, unbelievable. It takes a special athlete to be able to do that. He may not look like a great athlete, but he is a great athlete.”

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he's OK with his MVP candidate making risky plays.

“Just that he would stick the landing,” Maddon said. “I was hoping for at least a 9.5 from the Luxembourg judge. It was a great play. I watched it again when they showed the replay. He did a nice job of getting there and just looking to step up, stepped up and then he did the same thing last year against (Ryan) Braun.

“I”m fine with all that stuff. Just go play the game. He does, and he has a lot of fun with it. He knows the wall. He knows the area. He did a great job.”

Rizzo was all smiles about the play.

“It's awesome,” he said. “Maybe The Final Six, Final Five, the girls gymnastics team. I've been watching them the last week-and-a-half, two weeks. Got a good dismount. Could have stuck the landing a little better. I was pleased with it.”

Rizzo heard chants of “MVP, MVP” from the crowd after the play.

“It's really cool to hear the fans say that, but there's a long way to go,” he said.

<h3 class="leadin">Happy with the pen:

The Cubs' bullpen has been an evolving story this year, and that's not likely to change any time soon.

Relievers have come and gone, and one key member, Pedro Strop, is in the early stages of a disabled-list stint as he recovers from a knee injury.

Over the past few days, Hector Rondon and Carl Edwards Jr. have had their ups and downs, while Justin Grimm has looked better since his return from the minor leagues.

In Tuesday's 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of a day-night doubleheader, lefty Mike Montgomery took a step in the right direction with 2 scoreless innings in relief of spot starter Trevor Cahill.

Right-hander Joe Smith struggled again, walking two of the three batters he faced.

“Right now, Stropie being injured, obviously, that's the big one, trying to fill that spot,” manager Joe Maddon said. “CJ (Edwards), I think, is definitely able to do that. I think Grimmer, the way he's throwing the baseball right now, is able to do that.

“I think Montgomery has been really good lately. I think he's been really showing his chops as to where that's what people have been talking about before. And, of course, we have Aroldis (closer Chapman). I like the bullpen right now. We just have to get them defined again and get them out there.”

Montgomery came to the Cubs in a trade with Seattle on July 20. He said he his beginning to feel more comfortable with the Cubs.

“I've been here for a couple of weeks now,” he said. “I feel more comfortable within myself, how I get guys out. It's just going out there and doing it. First game here, you have those nerves, and new team. I really didn't feel like myself, and I'm definitely getting back to that.”