Secret weapon? Eureka's Ben Zobrist in attendance as Chicago Cubs snap losing streak

Not saying it was the presence of Ben Zobrist that helped the Chicago Cubs break their long losing streak, but ...

The Eureka native and former Cubs utility ace was at Wrigley Field on Friday when the Cubs defeated the Atlanta Braves 1-0 to snap an 10-game losing string. 

Zobrist, 41, was all smiles as he waved to the afternoon crowd, who delivered a rousing ovation for the man whose RBI double gave the Cubs the lead in Game 7 of their 2016 World Series victory. He capped the third-inning ovation by tapping his heart, then giving a thumbs up and salute to the fans at the confines.

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The fans in the stands were not the only ones excited to see Zobrist.

Online commenters and Twitter users were ecstatic to see the beloved Cub back in the building. Many replied with words of encouragement for Zobrist, who stepped away from the Cubs in 2019 while attempting to repair his marriage with Julianna Zobrist, whom he has since divorced.

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"The most exciting Cubs highlight in weeks," fan Megan Stacy wrote on Facebook.

Another fan waxed poetic about Zobrist, saying the former Eureka High player looked like he could still add a few digits to that WAR.

"Sometimes I think about Ben Zobrist," wrote Staci Heaton. "Then one day, Ben Zobrist just shows up at Wrigley smiling and looking healthy and like he could suit up and drive a double down the line. And that makes me really happy."

Former Chicago Sun-Times writer Gordon Wittenmeyer, now of NBC Sports Chicago, said Zobrist was at Wrigley on Thursday, ahead of the series against the Braves.

"Zobrist in the building," he wrote. "Cubs are saved."

After his time at Eureka High School, Zobrist planned to attend a bible college in Missouri until a scout from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais saw him at a baseball tryout camp in Brimfield. That began his path to the big leagues in 2006.

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Zobrist played 14 years in the majors with the Cubs, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Kansas City, where he was part of the 2015 World Series champions.

Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.