Anthony Rizzo gave fans a look at how smart hitting can pay off in a win over the Orioles. In the first big moment, he worked a 3-2 count against Jordan Lyles. After seeing two fastballs in a row, Rizzo expected a changeup. But Lyles threw a third straight fastball. Rizzo adjusted mid-at-bat, scooted up in the box by about half a foot, and poked the pitch over the short porch in right for a homer. What stood out wasn’t just the home run, but the fact that Rizzo immediately told his teammates in the dugout about the move. He wasn’t guessing. He had a plan.
Later in the game, Rizzo applied the same adjustment. He stepped up again in the box and this time did get the changeup he was expecting. By moving forward, he caught the pitch before it could break sharply and ripped it for another home run. Two homers, two different pitches, one smart adjustment. Rizzo used the first at-bat to gather intel and made it count again in the fifth. It’s a rare look at in-game thinking translating directly to runs.