Ben Zobrist has been scratched a few times this season, so when his name came out of the lineup yesterday, it might not have surprised you.
Turns out, though, the reason he was scratched almost certainly did surprise you: it wasn’t because of a nagging injury, but instead because of a car rental problem.
In a storyline straight out of ‘Seinfeld,’ when Zobrist arrived at the airport to get his rental car, the company hadn’t actually held his reservation (ESPN). I can only imagine the exchange …
Ben: “I don’t understand. I made a reservation. Do you have my reservation?”
Agent: “Yes, we do. Unfortunately we ran out of cars.”
Ben: “But the reservation keeps the car here. That’s why you have the reservation.”
Agent: “I know why we have reservations.”
Ben: “I don’t think you do. If you did, I’d have a car. See, you know how to take the reservation, you just don’t know how to hold the reservation and that’s really the most important part of the reservation, the holding. Anybody can just take them.”
*Ben jumps in World Series MVP Camaro and hauls tail to Cincinnati*
/scene
Eventually, Zobrist made it to the park, and the Cubs were fortunate that he did, as he wound up pinch hitting in the pivotal 7th inning, crushing a two-run double to give the Cubs a lead they would not relinquish.
It was especially nice, after what has been a terrible season for Zobrist, in large part because of injuries, to see him going the other way with authority.
The Cubs tweeted out the big hit, and also did a little something cheeky with the description:
One of the biggest go-ahead RBI doubles @benzobrist18 has ever hit in Ohio. pic.twitter.com/KKHyb6x2wB
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 23, 2017
After his hit, Zobrist came into the dugout and said (ESPN):Â “When you show up for the game when I did, you better do something good.” Mission accomplished.
All is well that ends well, as Zobrist got to the park, got to contribute, and got a crazy story out of the whole thing.