Up against wall, Cubs have veterans like Zobrist to push back
The Wrigley Field crowd was firing on all cylinders in the first inning Saturday night as the Chicago Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 lead over the Cleveland Indians in Game 4 of the World Series.
There was still plenty of spark after the Indians jumped in front 2-1 in the second, but the flames took a noticeable dip when Cleveland added another run in the sixth inning.
When Northbrook native Jason Kipnis broke the game open for the Indians with a 3-run homer in the seventh, the crowd went numb and many headed for the exits.
Now on the cusp of elimination in the Fall Classic, the Cubs have no other choice but willing themselves to become the first team since the 1985 Kansas City Royals to overcome a 3-1 deficit and win the championship.
Cubs fans are as loyal as they come in any sport, but they are also understandably stung.
If the Cubs are going to mount an unlikely comeback, it's up to the players. It's always up to the players.
Fortunately for the Cubs, they have players like Ben Zobrist on the roster.
Looking to plug some noticeable holes last off-season after making the playoffs for the first time in seven years before being swept by the New York Mets in the National League championship series, the Cubs announced a key free-agent signing at the winter meetings on Dec. 9, adding Zobrist on a four-year, $56 million contract.
A career .265 hitter after the 2015 season, Zobrist wasn't brought in to win a batting title. And the versatile veteran was not expected to play Gold Glove defense.
The Cubs pounced on Zobrist for one main reason.
"Ben is a winning baseball player," Cubs president Theo Epstein said.
"Zo is only about one thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "He's all about winning."
Zobrist won a World Series ring playing for the Kansas City Royals last year.
In 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland A's, Royals and Cubs, the infielder/outfielder has been the playoffs six times.
Zobrist is the kind of player managers lean on when times are tough, and the Cubs have definitely reached that point.
They have their backs to the wall, but they can't win three in a row when they face the Indians tonight at Wrigley in Game 5 of the World Series.
The Cubs have to knock off one win at a time, and Zobrist will make sure they keep their focus on the game at hand.
"We came back and won three in a row the last series," Zobrist said of the Cubs storming past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League championship series.
Right fielder Jason Heyward had the same attitude after the Indians won Game 4 behind ace starter Corey Kluber.
"Don't change," Heyward said. "We've won three games in a row before. That's just the way it is. Just keep going until the end. From spring training to this day, we've always told ourselves approach every day the same, go out there, get after it, have fun, compete. Bring the best out of each other and look up at the end and see where that gets you."
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