CARTER is on the bench. LEWIS approaches him.
LEWIS
Nice six innings.
CARTER
I try.
LEWIS
You ready for the seventh?
CARTER
I was thinking of watching it from the clubhouse if that’s okay with you. Rooting for our relievers!
LEWIS
Huh?
CARTER
It’s about to be the seventh inning. Remember? You just said you ready for the seventh.
LEWIS
I did indeed.
CARTER
So?
LEWIS
Dear God, do I really have to spell it out for you.
CARTER
I...guess?
LEWIS
Fine. Um...U, R, P, I, C, T, C, H, I, N, G.
CARTER
Urpictching?
LEWIS
Where did you get that from?
CARTER
I just put together the letters.
LEWIS
You are pitching.
CARTER
See, that’s spelled y, o,—oh wait. What?!
LEWIS
You heard me. Seventh inning, get ready.
CARTER
But I don’t even have a no hitter!
LEWIS
Too bad.
CARTER
Why?
LEWIS
I feel like it.
CARTER
I don’t think this is gonna end well.
RAY walks over to LEWIS and CARTER.
RAY
Uh oh. What’s not going to end well?
CARTER
Lewis wants me to pitch another inning.
LEWIS
I never said another inning.
CARTER
It was implied.
LEWIS
You’re pitching the rest of the game.
CARTER
There’s no way.
LEWIS
Quit complaining and get out there.
CARTER
Not a complaint. Just raising a concern.
RAY
Carter, don’t question it. Just do your thing.
CARTER
I’ll try. I don’t think I have it in me though.
CARTER reluctantly walks onto the mound and throws a perfect inning. He walks a batter and gives up a hit in the eighth inning, and strikes out all three in the ninth. Zero runs have scored. At the end of the inning, he meets BEN in the dugout.
BEN
You didn’t think you had it in you, did you?
CARTER
Nope. I guess I underestimated myself.
BEN
Why?
CARTER
I’ve been so bad every now and then that I thought I was sure I was gonna blow it.
BEN
You’re a great pitcher.
CARTER
Sometimes.
LEWIS runs over to CARTER.
LEWIS
You ready to pitch the tenth?
CARTER
Wait...crap, the game is tied, isn’t it?
LEWIS
Uh huh.
CARTER
Well, I lost track of the score. But yeah, I’m ready for the tenth.
LEWIS
That’s the spirit.
CARTER walks out onto the mound for the tenth inning. He gets all three outs without giving up any runs and runs back to the dugout. The Capitols score a run and end the game.
CARTER
I’m a great pitcher.