Page 96 of Home Run

“Nope, I’m an Eagles fan.” Doug sat back down next to my mom and threw his arm around her shoulder. “Unless it’s the Eagles playing, I’ll route for whoever is on screen. But Tanner’s part of the family now, so I’m happy to support the Lions.”

“Same,” added Josh, jumping up. “Changeover time. I’m getting more chips.”

The eighth inning went much the same as the previous one—the Nats made it to second a couple of times only to get caught out passing third, but they did hit a home run, bringing the score up to 3–4 at the start of the ninth inning.

My brothers, their friends, and Doug were slowly beginning to drive me crazy with how fidgety they were every time one of the Nats was at bat. Doug had started hovering by the doorway, and both my brothers had taken to standing behind the couches.

But they were quiet enough we could now hear the commentators as the next batter arrived at the plate and Ace got ready to pitch.

“Grounded to the left, deep in the field, Tanner Simpson snatches up the ball, and in less than a second fires it over to Boomer Jones on first base, right before the Nats batter made it there safely. What a sensational play, Mike.”

“Sensational,Steve. And bad luck for the Nats.”

“Very bad luck. They just can’t quite get the edge over the Lions tonight.”

“Or in this series.”

“Or in this series. You’re right again, Mike.”

My brothers let out a loud cheer, and their friends jumped up off the couches.

Even Doug inched back into the room. “Wow, Millie, that was amazing.” He cheered at me, like I had something to do with it.

“Yeah,” was all I could manage to reply, because I was truly speechless.

The camera zoomed in on Tanner’s face, a grin spreading across it as he walked back into position, high-fiving Lux as he did.

“If the Lions keep playing like this, they’re taking home the trophy for sure,” went on the ESPN commentator.

“What a comeback story for them. Years and years at the bottom of the standings, and in the three seasons since Penn Shepherd took ownership, they make it up to the World Series.”

“I agree, Steve. Looking at the rest of the division games, I think we’re going to see Lions versus Giants in the championship series.”

“Can the Lions bring the fight they need? That’s the question everyone will be asking. And I say they can. I think they’re going all the way. I’m predicting a Lions versus Yankees showdown this year.”

“Lions versus Yankees. I want to see that.” Josh turned to me. “We’re all going to the World Series, right, Mildred?”

“Radley and I are.” I grinned at him, knowing full well Tanner would get tickets for my entire family if I asked him to. But I would never put that on him. If my brothers wanted tickets, they could ask in their new capacity as hisBFF, and as the pair of them were currently on their phones, I assumed they were already asking.

“You agree it’ll be the Yankees?” Doug asked.

Matty nodded. “The Yankees are doing well. But they’ll go to four games for the division—they lost the second against the White Sox.”

“That’s good for us, one extra game means they’re an extra game more tired.”

Everyone silenced as the next Nats batter came up, hitting a line drive right between second and third. Tanner powered forward. The Nats player on second base sprinted around to third as fast as he could.

Tanner was faster, snatching up the ball and throwing it to Jupiter Reeves, who caught it with nanoseconds to spare.

“Wow, I gotta say, the defensive play between him and the fielders tonight is like nothing we’ve seen this season,” said the commentator. “Real example of teamwork.”

“I agree, Mike. He should get MVP for this series. It’s been incredible to watch him.”

They headed into bottom of the ninth, and you could almost feel the anticipation passing from the fans through the television screen. Parker was first to the plate, making it to second before being caught at third when Boomer Jones’s ball was caught from the air.

If I didn’t know better, I’d say they were trying to lull the Nats into a false sense of security, but that broke as soon as Lux was at bat. It was as though he’d heard us talking about how powerful he hit the ball and wanted to outdo himself.

It soared through the air, out to the crowds wrapped up on the boardwalk, and over into the Hudson, farther thanthe dinghies were positioned. It disappeared under the water, only to pop up a second later, and the cold October air didn’t stop half a dozen of the dinghy owners jumping in to grab it.

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