Put Me In Season 2 Episode 1: Back On The Mound (Crossover Part 1 of 3)





OPEN: The starting players for the Charleston Capitols, alongside the manager, are sitting in the dugout. CARTER is scheduled to start, his first in over a month. LEWIS, the manager, and RAY, the catcher, approach him as he sits alone.

LEWIS
You look nervous, Carter.

CARTER
As I should be.

RAY
What do you mean? Just do your thing and you’ll do fine.

CARTER
Did you not notice where we are and who we’re playing?

RAY
Yes, we’re in Indianapolis, Indiana and we’re playing the Indianapolis Primitives. The only people allowed in the crowd are the media, it’s not like their bullpen can distract the crowd from you this time.

CARTER
It’s not that. Their starters are amazing. I’d have to throw a no hitter to compete.

LEWIS
Look at it this way—

BEN, the second baseman, approaches.

BEN
Carter, I know you’re not excited about having to take a loss for your first game back, but don’t worry about it. We always lose to the Primitives.

CARTER
That is not very comforting at all.

BEN
I never said it was gonna be.

RAY
Ben, is that really the kind of pep talk we need?

BEN
It wasn’t a pep talk. I’m just telling it as it is.

LEWIS
We haven’t lost to the Primitives with Carter starting yet. Maybe he’ll buck the trend.

CARTER
Alright. You ready Ray?

RAY
Oh I’m not playing today, this is my day off.

CARTER
Ben, are you behind me?

BEN
Yeah, I’m at third base.

CARTER
Not second?

BEN
No, Nic and I switched. We’re playing the Primitives, not like we have a chance at winning.

CARTER
Hold on a second. Maybe the reason they always win is the other team gives up before the game even starts!

LEWIS
Nah that’s not it, we’ve tried that last season, lost eight nothing.

RAY
No, we were down eight nothing when you decided to leave. We ended up losing fifteen to nothing. And we were not that bad of a team either.

CARTER
Alright, since I’m getting less support than usual do you still expect me to go six innings, Lewis?

LEWIS
Eh, we’ll see how it goes. But our bullpen struggled with stamina with you gone, so aim for six. Good luck.

CARTER walks out of the dugout and onto the mound. He gets ready to throw the first pitch to ALLEN, the third-string catcher. The pitch is a strike. The crowd roars with applause. After he strikes out three batters, he walks back to the dugout.

CARTER
One down, five to go.

LEWIS
And you have the crowd cheering for you too!

CARTER
Technically. That small group of people spaced out behind the plate really shouldn’t be cheering for either team, but I guess they like me.

ALLEN
The media is one hundred percent on your side. They probably like you even more than regular fans do!

CARTER
At least I’ll have a confidence booster. You know what? I think these next five innings will be a breeze!

CARTER goes the next three innings without giving up any runs, and only one hit. His confidence is high going into the fifth inning. Getting ready to pitch, CARTER spits on the mound as a routine habit. The home plate umpire walks up to the mound, as does ALLEN.

HOME PLATE UMPIRE
Hey kid, no spitting on the mound.

CARTER
Seriously? Everyone does that!

ALLEN
Calm down Carter. Mr. Umpire Sir, it won't happen again.

Not sure what is going on, LEWIS walks up to the mound.

LEWIS
Everything okay over here?

HOME PLATE UMPIRE
I was just telling your pitcher not to spit on the mound.

LEWIS
Um...

HOME PLATE UMPIRE
New rule. You should be aware of it.

LEWIS
That just seems very arbitrary.

HOME PLATE UMPIRE
It's not. Don't worry about it, it's just an innocent mistake.

CARTER
It won't happen again.

The home plate umpire, ALLEN, and LEWIS all walk back to their respective positions. CARTER throws another solid inning and walks back to the dugout.

LEWIS
So now we know you can't spit on the mound.

CARTER
At least I got away with it.

BEN
You guys are talking as if you did some kind of crime! Come on Carter, one more inning and then you're done for the day.

LEWIS
Are you the coach, Ben?

BEN
No, but everyone knows that's what the situation is like.

LEWIS
True. Alright Carter, show them what you've got.

CARTER
Will do.

LEWIS (chuckling)
Hopefully you don't spit again!

CARTER laughs as he walks up to the mound. He strikes out the first batter. He spits on the ground, embarrassed right after. The home plate umpire makes a signal ejecting him from the game. CARTER holds his head down and walks back to the dugout. DAVID, another starting pitcher, greets him.

DAVID
Oh don't worry about it kid, we all make mistakes. Actually we don't, just you!

LEWIS
David, we get that you're jealous of Carter. Sit down. As for you, Carter-

CARTER
I swear I didn't do it on purpose.

LEWIS
I'm sure you didn't. Lucky you made it this far.

CARTER
Am I in trouble?

LEWIS
No, but you're two spits away from it. Time to make the call to the bullpen.

CUT to the bullpen of the Charleston Capitols. The phone is ringing. COACH DONOVAN answers.

COACH DONOVAN
You guys know the drill. Mike, you're in for the rest of the inning. Apparently spitting on the mound can now get you ejected so don't do it.

MIKE
Got it.

MIKE walks out onto the mound. He finishes the inning without giving up any runs. XAVIER and TYLER respectively pitch the seventh and eighth innings, neither giving up any runs. JAMES, the closer, goes into the game in the ninth inning. The Charleston Capitols are ahead of the Indianapolis Primitives, one run to none. JAMES strikes out two batters in a row. He throws the first pitch to the third batter, and it is a home run. ALLEN walks out to the mound.

JAMES
I blew the game. I can't believe this.

ALLEN
We were bound to lose to the Primitives. Surprised it took us this long.

JAMES
The game's still tied you know.

ALLEN
Right. So my thought is that you should throw the ball and get the next guy out.

JAMES
Seriously?

ALLEN
Yes, seriously. I'm not Ray, full of plans and whatnot.

ALLEN walks back to the plate. JAMES gives up two hits and a walk, loading the bases. He then pitches three balls and two strikes to the next batter. One more strike would send the game into extra innings. One more ball would give the Indianapolis Primitives the win. JAMES throws the pitch.

TO BE CONTINUED on The Bullpen, Season 3 Episode 1. Click here to read!

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