Bill and Jake took seats in the dugout as they entered the bottom of the first inning, after Bill had retired the first three batters.
“Okay, Bill. From the lack of your normal sour disposition, I am assuming you and Megan patched things up.”
Bill had flown in from Seattle and rushed to the stadium for the pre-game warm up. They had not had time to talk, and Jake knew the news was good however, from the smile on his friend’s face.
“We did,” replied Bill, smiling.
“There’s more?”
Bill looked over at his friend with a larger smile.
“Spill it!”
“Megan and I are going to have a baby.”
“Technically that would be Megan,” replied Jake, teasing his friend.
Bill rolled his eyes.
“That is great news! Does Natalie know?”
“Not yet. I want to give her the news in person, and I am heading back to Boise next week. That is likely when I’ll let her, and her mom know.”
“That’s the smart way to do it.”
They watched one of their own guys get to second base with a great hit off the bottom of the left field wall. Bill pulled a jacket pulled over his arm to ensure he stayed warm and to keep his arm muscles loose.
Six innings later Bill’s team was up seven to one as the Dodgers got ready to bat again. It was the bottom of seventh inning and the Mets had switched to a rookie pitcher to save their strongest closer for the next game.
Marenik would close out for the Dodgers. Bill was done pitching for the day.
“You’re on deck, Bill,” said Coach Jackson, reminding him.
Bill grabbed his favorite bat for his practice swings. As he warmed up, he watched the rookie pitcher, wanting an idea of his timing. Bill knew the player had just been called up two weeks prior and this would be his second time pitching in the big league.
Martinez was at bat and was likely to get a hit off this kid. Bill needed to advance Martinez if he got on base.
The first pitch was a ball outside.
The next was in the dirt.
Bill smiled and watched the rookie take a deep breath to settle himself. When he threw the next pitch, Martinez hit it deep into left field just inside the foul marker. The Met’s stopped him at second base.
Bill walked to the plate. He was tall so his strike zone was good sized. He thought he detected frustration in the younger man’s face.
The first pitch was fast, and it was low and inside where Bill had trouble getting to it.
Martinez was really laying off second, looking for a steal and the rookie pitcher forced him back on base. But he was nervous, and the next pitch was in the dirt and outside, clearing the catcher’s mitt and taking a Dodgers bounce.
Martinez was on third in a flash.
Bill got ready, limbered up and stepped back in the box. The rookie was distracted with a runner itching to steal home, ready to pounce on a hit or a pitcher’s mistake. Bill felt the next pitch would be a fastball, nothing fancy, so they could try and keep Martinez locked down.
When the errant pitch came off the guy’s hand Bill tried to spin away knowing he was going to get hit, which he did, right in the back near his spine.
Bill screamed in pain, writhing in the dirt as the EMT’s scrambled and the two teams went charging onto the field. The Mets to protect their guy and the Dodgers wanting blood.
Doc Jensen was already beside Bill.
Bill was moving, rolling back and forth, a steady stream of curses coming from his mouth. Doc Jensen grabbed one of his feet.
“Bill! Push against my hand!”
Bill screamed again when he tried.
“Get me a cart and a backboard now!” yelled Doc Jensen.
“Jake-call Megan and Natalie!” yelled Bill.
“Tell them I’m okay,” he said through gritted teeth.