Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Ben Zobrist, the hottest Cubs hitter, isn't slowing down

ST.LOUIS -- There is one player on the Chicago Cubs who isn’t slumping, despite the team’s lack of sustained success the past couple weeks. Second baseman Ben Zobrist is simply having one of the best runs at the plate of his entire career.

“Probably the best I’ve ever had,” Zobrist said after another three-hit game Monday. “I’ve had some good stretches where I got a lot of hits, but as far as seeing the ball, feeling comfortable, putting good swings on the ball, it’s probably the best it’s been for any three-, four-week stretch of time.”

Zobrist went 3-for-4 with a walk Monday, which increased both his batting average and his on-base percentage, despite the Cubs' 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs have played seven games on their road trip, and Zobrist is 12-for-28 (.429) with three walks and a home run.

“Watch his takes,” Maddon said. “I believe when an umpire calls a strike, and he takes it, it probably was a ball. He’s seeing it that well.”

Zobrist has to be on the short list for player of the month for May. He has carried the Cubs' offense lately, as he is hitting .413 with a whopping .500 on-base percentage since May 1. For the season, he’s hitting .338 -- and this is a man who turns 35 on Thursday.

“You ride it out as long as you can,” Zobrist said. “Someone else is going to be hot soon, and we’re going to work our way out of this.”

The Cubs are wasting Zobrist’s hot stretch, as they have dropped eight of 12 after Monday’s loss, but that doesn’t take away from the entertainment of watching him in the batter's box. He’s locked in.

“Both sides of the plate,” Maddon said. “He looks like what you want all your hitters to look like, as far as looking over a pitch. It’s really been incredible to watch.”

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