Sweeping beauty: Rizzo rises up on epic play

CHICAGO — If the U.S. women’s gymnastics team is looking for a sixth member, they might want to call Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who showed off his acrobatic skills once again in Tuesday night’s 4-1 win in the nightcap of the doubleheader against the Brewers.

“I got a good dismount, could’ve stuck the landing a little better, but I’m pleased with it,” Rizzo said of his play in the fifth inning.

With one out, Rizzo chased Keon Broxton’s popup in foul territory near the rolled-up tarp, then stepped onto the top of the wall with his right foot, reached over the fans to catch the ball and somehow maintained his balance. Rizzo hopped on one foot, then jumped to the ground.

“I looked up there and the ball was still pretty high and I had time to get up there and make the play,” Rizzo said. “I surprised myself that I caught the ball, to be honest. It’s one of those fun plays — if you make it, you look great, and if you don’t, you look like a fool.”

What was Cubs manager Joe Maddon thinking as he watched Rizzo’s feat?

“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. He did a nice job of getting there. … He knows the wall, he knows that area. He did a great job. It was a big play.”

The crowd …

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