Things tightened up in the next few innings. Alex continued to pitch well, but the Rays found a way to put two runs on the board. When the Dodgers prepared to bat at the bottom of the sixth inning, the game was tied 2 to 2.
Danny felt great. He had been making good throws back to the mound. The yips finally seemed to be over.
Alex stepped up to the plate to bat. Danny stood in the on-deck circle, waiting for his turn to hit. “Come on, Alex!” he shouted. He felt comfortable and happy. It was like the yips had never happened.
On the first pitch, Alex hit a line drive into the gap between center field and right field. He ran hard past first base. He made it to second with a leadoff double.
“That’s the way to do it!” yelled Danny. His teammates cheered behind him as he stepped up to the plate. “Time to drive him home,” he told himself.
Danny waited patiently in the batter’s box and took a few practice swings. Alex took a healthy lead off second base.
The pitcher finally went into his windup. Danny waited as the ball soared toward him. He was ready.
At the perfect moment, he cocked his bat and drove his back foot into the ground. All his energy went forward as he swung the bat. The ball slammed off his bat and over the head of the pitcher. The shortstop and the second baseman ran toward the ball, but it shot between them and into center field.
Danny ran to first just as the center fielder got the ball. Alex raced around third and flew toward home. The center fielder threw the ball to the catcher just as Alex slid into home. In a cloud of dirt and dust, the umpire made the call. “Safe!” he yelled.
The Dodgers players went crazy. Danny pumped his fist at first base as Alex pointed out to him. Danny pointed back and grinned. He had driven in an important run. The Dodgers were ahead, 3 to 2.
The inning ended quickly after that. The next two Dodgers batters went down swinging, and the last batter of the inning made the final out on a lazy fly ball to left. Danny and Alex had done their jobs. If the Dodgers kept the Rays from scoring their next time up to bat, the game would be over. The Dodgers would have their win.