Emotional win for Rizzo

MIAMI – Given the events of the last six weeks, Anthony Rizzo’s homecoming was going to be emotional regardless. Then he received a standing ovation in a road ballpark. And to top it all, he hit a home run in a season opener played 45 miles south of where his community still mourns an indescribable tragedy.

No wonder the Chicago Cubs first baseman experienced such an overwhelming sensation after going deep in the second inning of his club’s 8-4 victory Thursday over the Miami Marlins.

“I’ve hit a lot of home runs. That was probably the most out-of-body experience I’ve had hitting a home run in my life,” said Rizzo, a graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida.

Upon reaching home plate, Rizzo tapped his jersey patch with the initials MSD and 17 stars, one for each of the persons killed in the Feb. 14 shooting at the school. Then he pointed to the sky, a rare gesture for him.

Rizzo, who will participate in pregame ceremonies Friday to honor the victims and their relatives, visited his hometown two days before and even watched the Douglas Eagles cruise to a 15-0 baseball victory.

Three hours before the opener, he expressed his support for the Douglas High students who have advocated for stricter gun control laws, saying, “I think it’s a little too easy to go in there and get a gun.”

But he didn’t expect for the Marlins Park crowd, even with its large Cubs presence, to get up and applaud him before his first at-bat.

And he certainly did not foresee pounding a 96 mph fastball from Miami starter Jose Urena well over the right-field fence.

“I wanted to slow down, run the bases, just enjoy that moment,” he said. “Hitting a homer on Opening Day is special always.”