No Relief

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No Relief — page 7 — jersey is soaked through Incredible catch he says a little out of breath Thanks How’s the arm Loose but tired He shakes it out Let’s score a run and finish this thing We just need one base runner I say I’ll drive him home Griffin puts on a batting glove and chooses a bat He has power but he’s slow on the bases It’s hot behind the plate with all that equipment on so I know he’s itching to get this game over with We don’t want extra innings But there’s already one out Lamar steps to the batter’s box and taps the plate The advantage of being short is that he and I draw a lot of walks Our strike zone is small Four high pitches Lamar trots to first base Everybody in the dugout stands up Griffin’s hit four home runs this season and he just missed one earlier today 8

No Relief — page 8 — I’m on deck I shove a batting helmet over my ears they stick out of my regular cap and swing the bat a few times Griffin lines the first pitch deep into left-center Looks like it might be gone but it dips at the last second and bangs off the fence Marcus makes a great stab and fires the ball in holding Lamar at third as Griffin slides into second So it’s all on me One out Javon Carlos calls Another out here is okay especially if it brings in a run Don’t strike out I tell myself Don’t hit a weak pop fly or a grounder to first Just do something productive Strike one the umpire calls as a fastball zips by me I wipe my mouth with the back of my wrist No batter call the infielders He can’t hit I don’t mind the chatter I catch the second baseman’s eye and smirk Torry Santana He 9

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