Ryan finished the inning with two strikeouts and an infield grounder. In only 12 pitches, he had already put the American League team in a tough spot coming into the bottom of the 8th.
"Ken, you're up." Coach Baker said, calling out to him in the dugout.
Ken was already donning his hat and glove, raring to go. Seeing Ryan pitch lights out had awoken his competitive spirit, there was no way he would back down here.
As he walked up the stairs to the field, he caught Ryan staring at him from the other dugout. Whatever smugness he used to have was all but gone, replaced by a fierce determination.
'I guess he's also grown up.' Ken mused in his heart.
Ken ignored the guy and went onto the field, arriving at the mound. The pitcher replacement was announced over the speakers, and he achieved a mixed cheer.
Majority of the cheers from the crowd were positive, but there was a section that jeered and booed at him. This wasn't uncommon at away grounds, so Ken didn't take it to heart.
