No Relief

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

No Relief — page 9 — and Marcus are the only players in the league with their names on their jerseys Their fathers sponsor the team just like Pedraza’s Mexican Restaurant sponsors ours Thorpe Santana It’s an accounting agency Strike two This time I take a swing at least But I miss it by a mile There’s a lot on the line here If we win this game we’ll finish the regular season in a tie for first place Lose and the season’s over There’ll only be a play-off if the standings are tied Here comes the pitch Waist high a little outside Whack I sprint toward first base as the ball soars into the outfield Marcus is under it but that might be deep enough to drive Lamar home Marcus catches the ball before I reach first base I turn and yell to Lamar Move buddy 10

No Relief — page 10 — The throw bounces near the mound and the catcher blocks the plate Lamar slides stirring up a cloud of dirt Safe We have the lead I smack hands with my teammates as I reach the dugout That was a huge RBI Maybe a season saver Carlos strikes out so I grab my glove Javon Coach says He doesn’t need to say anything more I run to the mound and throw some pitches to an assistant coach while Griffin straps on his catcher’s gear Carlos takes my place in center field Then we’re ready to go Batter up calls the umpire I glare at Torry one of my best friends but an enemy at the moment He drove in his team’s only run a few innings ago My first pitch sizzles right past him for a strike So does the second as he takes a massive swing 11

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