Rizzo launches two, can't match Ross' power

ST. LOUIS -- Anthony Rizzo may have 31 home runs, topping the 30-homer mark for the second time in his career with a pair on Wednesday afternoon against the Cardinals, but the Cubs player who hit the longest blast was 39-year-old David Ross. And the catcher wanted to make sure everyone, especially Rizzo, knew that.
"Can we get that in the paper somewhere?" Ross said of his two-run shot to straightaway center in the fifth inning of the Cubs' 7-0 win. "[It was] 429, and I think I got it more than that. I'll let [Rizzo] know."
Rizzo collected his 30th and 31st home runs on Wednesday, which were a Statcast-projected 386 and 404 feet, respectively. He also raised his RBI total to 101, and he is the first Cubs player with consecutive 30 homer and 100 RBIs seasons since Sammy Sosa did so from 1995-2003. Rizzo is the second left-handed hitter in franchise history to reach that mark in multiple seasons, joining Hall of Famer Billy Williams, who accomplished the feat in 1965, '70 and '72.

"It means a lot," Rizzo said. "Obviously, that's what I want to do every year and bring that to the team every year. It feels good to look back on it now. It's not easy to do and I don't take it for granted one bit."
Ross has repeated that he's retiring after this season ends, but he has joked that if he hits 10 home runs, he may reconsider. He now has nine. Ross also threw out two potential basestealers and helped Jon Lester cruise through eight scoreless innings.
"If I keep doing awesome things like that, I don't know [if I'll retire]," Ross said.
He was kidding. However, his teammates don't want him to go home, especially Rizzo, although he'll get some razzing about the length of Ross' home run.
"He probably will [tell me about it] on the plane," Rizzo said. "It's always fun when he hits one."