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Levine: Anthony Rizzo, Travis Wood Both Get Firsts

By Bruce Levine--

WRIGLEY FIELD (CBS) -- The eight-game wait for his first home run didn't seem that long for Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who launched a Jason Marquis fastball into the empty Wrigley Field bleachers against a 15-mph east wind in the first inning of a 5-0 win against the Reds on Wednesday evening. The 25-year-old slugger was biding his time, enjoying watching his teammates win games early in the season and playing on a first-place team for the first time in his big league career.

"This is a great group of guys who are very relaxed and very hungry at the same time," Rizzo said. "We need to feel this way. It's good, and we need to get the whole city rallying behind us, which they already are. It feels really good."

Rizzo doubled his RBI output for the season with the two-run homer that scored Dexter Fowler ahead of him. Coming into the game, Rizzo sported a .433 on-base percentage thanks to four bases on balls and getting hit by a pitch four times. Marquis walked Rizzo intentionally in the second inning as the Cubs scored twice.

The early run production helped Cubs starter Travis Wood relax and retire the first 10 Reds batters before Joey Votto walked with one out in the fourth inning. Brandon Phillips singled one batter later.

Wood has dedicated himself to returning to the form of his 2013 season, when he had a 3.11 ERA. His 2014 season was impacted by personal issues that included a botched attempt at a three-year contract, which contributed to a sub-par year. Before Wednesday, Wood hadn't won a game since defeating the Reds on Aug 26, 2014. Wood hadn't won a game at home since May 18 of last season.

Wood flirted with his first career complete game and first shutout before leaving the mound in the eighth inning with two on and nobody out. Wood was clever enough to use the cold, windy conditions to his advantage.

"I knew the wind was blowing in, and you hope to get some early swings that they put up in the air," he said. "We were also locating (the fastball) really well tonight."

Manager Joe Maddon gave his pitcher a new label for being a hard-nosed player.

"He is different as pitchers go," Maddon said. "You can label him as a 'dirt bag,' that phrase you use when you talking about a really good baseball player. He is that-no excuses, ready to go (guy). The star of the game was Woodie."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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