Fred Bowen - Perfect Game

I saac turned toward the Giants catcher Alex Oquendo, crouched behind home plate. He saw Alex flash the one-finger signal and slide his glove slightly to his right. Fastball to the outside corner.

Isaac nodded and started his windup. He rocked back with his knee up high and then whipped the ball and his body forward with all his might. The ball flashed out of his hand and smacked into the catchers glove. Alex never moved a muscle.

Strike three! The umpire raised his right hand into a fist. Youre out.

A perfect pitch! Isaac punched the pocket of his glove and walked off the pitchers mound to the cheers of the crowd. It was the bottom of the fourth, and Isaac had a perfect game going. No runs, no hits, no errors, no walks.

Isaacs father, Alan Burnett, was in the stands, cheering the loudest. All right, Isaac! he shouted through cupped hands. Six more outs, buddy. Six more outs.

Mr. Park, the Giants coach, was shouting too. All right, good inning! No runs, no hits, no errors. He glanced at the lineup posted on the dugout wall. Lets get some more runs this inning. Max, Caden, and Ben are up. Everybody hits.

Isaac headed to the far end of the bench.

His teammates left him alone. They knew that some major league players considered it bad luck to talk to a pitcher when he had a no-hitter going.

He checked the scoreboard.

The Giants led the Royals 20. Isaac glanced over his shoulder to his father and mother in the stands. His dad gave him a quick thumbs-up.

Isaac stretched out his legs and thought back over the first four innings. Twelve Royals batters. Twelve outs. He was on a roll. This could be the day he pitched his perfect game.

Jackson Rhodesthe Giants third basemansat down on the bench. Youre throwing great, Jackson whispered, sliding a little closer. Isaac didnt mind him coming over. Jackson had been his best friend since kindergarten.

Yeah, Isaac agreed. I feel good. I got my best stuff today. Everythings working.

Keep it up, Jackson said. Well get you some more runs.

Dont sweat it, Isaac said. Weve got enough runs already.

Crack! Max Crosby, the Giants left fielder, smacked a liner into the gap and took off. He rounded first base and sprinted toward second, slipping his foot under the tag. Safe!

Isaac smiled and nodded while Jackson and the rest of the team jumped to their feet and cheered wildly.

All right, Max!

Thats the way to get things started!

Lets get some more hits!

Jackson sat back down next to Isaac but kept his eyes on the game. Come on, Caden. Be a hitter!

Standing in the third-base coachs box, Coach Park touched the bill of his cap, swept his right hand down his left arm, and clapped his hands.

Isaac elbowed Jackson. Coach wants Caden to bunt, he whispered.

His friend nodded. With the way youre pitching, I guess he figures if we score one more run were a cinch to win.

Max was ready to run. He had one foot on second base and the other stretched toward third. As the pitch came in, Caden squared around in the batters box and held the bat level in front of him. The ball plunked against his bat and rolled slowly out toward third. Max took off. The Royals third baseman rushed in, grabbed the ball bare-handed, and threw to first for the easy out.

The Giants had a runner on third with one out. Ben Badillo, the Giants shortstop, stepped up to bat.

Come on, Ben! Jackson yelled from the bench. Drive him home. Ben smacked a high hopper over the pitchers mound and through the infield. Max raced toward home and crossed the plate with his hands held high. The Giants were ahead, 30!