One of the advantages of living in the suburbs of a big city is the access to major league sports. Now, I'm not a big baseball enthusiast, but when someone gives me free tickets for good seats at a Los Angeles Dodgers game, I'll go.
The Dodgers played the San Francisco Giants, who quickly got off to a 3-0 lead. The Dodgers couldn't get anything going. By the end of the 6th inning, people were leaving in droves. But my daughter and I stuck it out. At the end of the 8th inning, with no change in the score, she still wanted to stay to the end.
The Giants failed to score any more runs in the 9th inning. The Dodgers were back up, and just as quickly, got two outs. People were packing up to leave, when the Dodgers finally got a hit. The next batter also hit one out to center field, and drove in a run. It wasn't a shutout anymore, and people started to pay attention!
With a man on base and the tying run at bat, the Giants brought in a new pitcher, who threw four straight balls. Then he walked the next batter too! Now, the bases are loaded, and the crowds are standing—not to leave, but with excitement! The pitcher threw a strike, then a ball. And then, the batter gets a hit—out to right field, but not too far out there. The runners are rounding the bases as the right fielder races to try to catch that fly ball. He stretches, stretches—and catches it.
The game is over. The Dodgers lost.
But that last half inning made it all worthwhile.
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