There wasn't any time to speak with Dave to find out what happened with him. Drew took him to a corner for some space, while Coach went to the ump to name our new pitcher. Tyler jogged out of the bullpen, looking uncomfortable. He had limited experience this season and it seemed to show all over his face. He wasn't okay with the sudden summons.
As he warmed up on the mound, Noah and I met by second base.
"He doesn't look so good." I mumbled, kicking the base with my head down.
"You're right." Noah spoke into his glove. "He looks like you."
My head snapped up so I could glare at him.
"Kidding." Noah chuckled. "You no longer have that 'deer in the headlights' look." He glanced at Tyler. "This is the problem with letting Garret and the twins hog the mound. The rest of the pitchers might lose confidence."
"I would have felt better with Bryce." I whispered into my own glove, scared to be overheard. "He's always happy to take the mound."
"Nah, this is fine." Noah told me, patting my shoulder. "Coach is probably testing the bullpen. We have a good lead. I'm sure if things go south, he'll correct it."
After reassuring me, we both went back to our positions as Tyler was done with his warmup pitches. He would get to start from batter number seven so I tried telling myself that everything would be okay.
The fifth inning got off to a rough start, Tyler threw four straight balls and walked the first batter he faced. Against the next batter, his pitches got closer to the zone, but it lacked any movement or rhythm. Batter number eight hit a solid single to center field. Zeke tried his best to throw out the runner at second, with Noah catching his throw and touching the base.
"Safe!" The umpire extended his arms. Batter were safe at first and second. No outs.
"Don't mind!" Noah told Tyler as he threw him the baseball. "Let's turn a double play!" He yelled for everyone to hear.
I stiffened. So did Tyler. Maybe for the same reason too: the pressure. Noah, unknowingly had put pressure on us. For me, it's because I had a fear of making an error and not being able to get the double play, and letting the team down. For Tyler, it meant that he had to throw something that the batter would swing at and hit to an infielder. Or he would also be letting the team down.
I couldn't tell all of Tyler's thoughts, but I knew for sure that he was affected by Noah's 'encouragement'. His pitches were all over the place and he ended up walking the number nine batter. The bases were loaded as the top of the batter order came up for their third go around.
The pitching coach called time and went to the mound to talk with Tyler and Alex.
"Jake." Julian beckoned for me to walk closer to him. Surprised, I met him halfway since he was walking my way too. "With the bases loaded, and no outs, were going to stand a little different, okay?"
"Umm, okay?" I felt unsure.
Julian cracked a smile. "It's nothing too difficult. I just won't be holding the runner at first base anymore so go ahead and shift over a little to protect more up the middle. And stand back more on the grass. Your job is to try and not let anything through. So if I miss a grounder to my right, you should be able to cut it off at the grass."
I nodded.
"Remember, play is at home plate since every base is a force out. A double play would also be good even if we have to let a run score. Don't even stress if you can only get one out, okay?"
I nodded again.
"Good. Go back to the grass and shift more towards second. I'll direct you." He told me.
I jogged back to where I thought I should stand. My heels touched the grass and I was further more center than before. I looked to Julian for confirmation. He waved me further away. I took inches at a time until he gave me a thumbs up.
It was almost like I was aligned with Tyler and Alex. Noah noticed my positioning, nodded and adjusted himself to stand back as well, and more towards Jason. The runner on second peeked back at me, and chose to stay closer to the bag. I guess he thought I was responsible for the tagging if Tyler or Alex did a check throw.
The pitching coach went back to our dugout and Alex back to his position. Tyler's pitching calmed down a little as he faced the leadoff batter in the lineup. He didn't throw so many wild balls, and he was working it to a favorable count. The batter connected and all the runners took off right away. They were definitely told to go on any contact.
It was a fast grounder that snuck under Julian's glove, but with him pushing me back, I was able to stop it before it hit the grass. Instead of forcing a close play at second with an awkward throw, I played the way I faced, throwing the ball to Tyler, who sprinted to first base to cover.
The runner from third had already scored, and both runners advanced to second and third safely, but at least we got one out. Tyler got back on the mound, the lead getting one run shorter, 7-2.
The second batter didn't even bother to have a battle with Tyler. He swung on the first pitch that was just on the out edge of the strike zone, blasting the ball down the left field line. Everyone was running. The baserunners, the batter, Mahki, and me. Mahki chase the ball to the corner of the field, picked it up and threw the ball to me. I ran out to the grass to be a proper cutoff man. I received the ball and spun to my left to throw to Noah at second base. He made the tag as the batter slid into him.
"Safe!" The umpire exclaimed.
Crud. Again?! A sense of frustration was growing inside me.
Both runners scored, pushing the score to 7-4. The lead was shrinking. Three run difference was comfortable but now it felt like it could disappear in a blink.
Coach came out, spoke with the ump behind home plate, then waved at our bullpen when he headed to the mound. Coach took the ball from Tyler and sent him back to the dugout, as James was jogging from the bullpen. He upgraded from a junior to a senior. Let's hope we can get better results.
James accepted the baseball with determination in his eyes. He nodded at Coach's words. Then Coach and Alex went to their spots. The umpire gave James ten pitches to throw off the mound. James weakly threw some normal pitches, not showing too much effort in his warmup. But I was used to it. I had a better grasp on what kind of pitcher he was.
James only threw curveballs. And because of it, he didn't pitch for long stretches. It was enough to close out the inning though. He earned back to back strikeouts from the third and fourth batters. Against the cleanup hitter, Alex had dropped the ball after the batter swung and missed. The batter took off for first and my heart jumped out of my chest. Alex calmly picked the ball up out of the dirt and threw the ball to Julian to confirm the out.
I really had an urge to cry with relief, but I knew it wasn't appropriate since Tyler was now in the dugout. When we all jogged back in, a lot of the guys slapped James on the back for a job well done and for getting us out of the long, dreadful half inning.