Anthony Rizzo leaps on Wrigley Field tarp to make incredible catch
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo challenged the limits of Wrigley Field and the Major League Baseball rule book on Wednesday to complete one of the craziest catches we’ve seen in years.
In happened in the sixth inning of the Cubs 3-2 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. Rizzo chased Ryan Braun’s sky high pop up into foul territory and took his pursuit as far as the Friendly Confine’s boundaries would allow before leaping on the tarp and tumbling into the stands to make the catch.
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You saw and read that correctly. Rizzo leaped on to the tarp in a single bound and waited for the ball to come down, before making the grab and falling into the stunned crowd.
That’s worth at least a holy something, but since it’s the Cubs we’ll stick with Holy Cow.
Of course, as mind-blowing as the effort was, it was also the source of some controversy as the umpires sorted out whether Rizzo left the field of play before making the catch. Initially, they ruled it a no play.
However, the umpire’s conference netted positive results for the Cubs. Rizzo was correctly determined to have one foot on the tarp and one foot on the brick wall as he secured the baseball. Braun was out, and Wrigley Field was whipped into a frenzy again.
Here’s another angle.
Per league rules, the runner at first base, Jonathan Lucroy, was awarded second base because Rizzo tumbled out of play after making the catch.
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That’s just a small footnote though in what we’ll again say was among the craziest and most impressive catches we’ve seen in years. Perhaps even crazier than Nolan Arenado’s crashing into the tarp from earlier this season. We’re sure that comparison will be made, but the image of Rizzo standing on the tarp waiting for the ball to come down is truly tough to beat.
Our hat is off to you, Anthony Rizzo. Hooooly Cow.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
