5. Ben Zobrist’s Double (10th inning)
We have arrived at the top five moments of the game. The other five before this were certainly exciting baseball moments. These top five, however, are on a whole different level. These are the moments that had direct impacts on the Chicago Cubs winning their first World Series championship in 108 years. The first of the top five comes from the 10th inning of the ballgame.
With runners on first and second and just a single out, the Indians were hoping for a ground ball to get out of the inning. They were able to get the former, but the latter was not true. Ben Zobrist drove a ground ball past the third baseman for an important double. That double scored Albert Almora from second base and sent Anthony Rizzo to third. As with some of the other key moments in the game, the reaction from the players showed just how important it was. Anthony Rizzo is seen after reaching third base with his hands on his head in disbelief of the moment.
As Rizzo strolled into third base, I can’t even imagine what went through his mind. The go-ahead run had just scored in front of his eyes. The Cubs were seemingly three outs away from winning the World Series. Rizzo was on third with only one out. His “oh my god” reaction was completely apt.
Rizzo wasn’t the only player who showed his emotion on the play. Anthony Rizzo strolled into third, but Ben Zobrist leaped into second base. It was a moment that even the players in the moment recognized. It did not lead to the winning run of the game, but that was not known at the time. It was a turning point for the Cubs following the rain delay, and it led to them winning the game.