Cubs build momentum on Zobrist's Game 4 spark
So, the Cubs' offense is completely stagnant, and a third-straight shutout loss to Los Angeles is suddenly looking possible Wednesday night in Game 4 of the National League championship series at Dodger Stadium.
Odd things always seem to happen in the postseason, good or bad.
There was an odd moment for the Cubs in Game 4, and it turned out to be a great thing.
With 21 straight scoreless innings hanging over their heads like a nest of termites, cleanup hitter Ben Zobrist led off the fourth and laid down a bunt that went for a single.
Zobrist's unorthodox decision didn't seem to be much of factor at first, but don't be fooled.
“It picked up the whole group,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “We needed something to get us going right there. It was kind of an unexpected play.”
While being held scoreless in Games 2-3, the Cubs were guilty of the same thing that happens to many teams in the postseason.
Pressure rapidly mounts when zero after zero go up on the scoreboard.
Hitters that produced throughout the regular season go into panic mode and either try hitting the ball out of the stadium or wind up taking fastballs right down the middle.
Zobrist, who is playing in his fifth postseason, has been guilty of trying to do too much and being uncomfortable at the plate like most other Cubs hitters.
But simply squaring the bat in Game 4 and getting an easy hit to start a needed 4-run rally was a smart move by a wise veteran.
“Any time you get a leadoff guy on in the playoffs, it adds a little extra energy,” said Kyle Hendricks, who starts Game 6 Saturday against Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw.
“You're hoping to get something going there and where our lineup had been, not putting a lot of hits and runners on, just to get the lead guy on was really good. And then the next guy, and the energy started picking up big time in that inning for sure.”
The Cubs wound up scoring 10 runs to win Game 4 going away, and the momentum carried right into Game 5 Thursday night when they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
The bats went quiet after the first, but Addison Russell, who struggled in the NL division series and NLCS before hitting a 2-run homer in the fourth inning Wednesday, came through with another huge 2-run shot in Game 5 Thursday.
“Zo did a great job on that bunt to get on,” Russell said of Zobrist in Game 4. “We moved guys over. That's kind of what we've been working on the whole season. Then coming up to the plate I just wanted to get something to drive.”
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