Cubs’ catalyst Rizzo offers clinic on 2-strike hitting

CHICAGO — If the Cubs are looking for a video to teach Minor Leaguers the benefit of a good two-strike approach, Anthony Rizzo gave them a perfect example on Monday night in an MVP-type moment.

“That was a fabulous at-bat — that’s what you’re looking for,” manager Joe Maddon said of Rizzo’s at-bat which resulted in a three-run homer to spark the Cubs to a 5-1 victory over the Mets.

The Cubs had two on and one out against the Mets’ Steven Matz in the third inning, and Rizzo took the first two pitches, then fouled off a changeup and took a sinker for a called strike. Rizzo fouled off the next five pitches — a curve, sinker, slider, and two more sinkers — before launching an 83-mph changeup into the right-field bleachers. It was his 22nd homer of the season, and gave the Cubs a much needed boost against their nemesis.

“When you continually frustrate a pitcher with two strikes, he doesn’t know what to do — ‘Where am I supposed to throw this pitch?'” Maddon said. “That’s when [the pitcher’s] tendency is to make a mistake. You have to cull it down mentally. You can’t go up there full throttle with two strikes without any kind of adjustment being made.

“When you get to …

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