The Countdown on the Bench

The contact was not perfect, but the ball shot beneath the first baseman's glove and rolled down the right-field line. All three runners broke. Lin dropped the bat and ran, his right arm nearly dead. The roar became a scream. One runner scored to tie. The second rounded third to take the lead. The third was coming home too. The right fielder retrieved the ball and fired. Lin stepped on first and turned. Ball and runner reached home together. Tang stood in the dugout with both arms spread. Zhou had somehow fought to the front rail. “Safe!” The umpire extended both arms. Bases-clearing hit. Thunder, eight to six. The stadium split open.