Hot Corners: Beginning of a Dynasty

by PRAKNASTY

After being unceremoniously fired from the Blowfish for reasons out of his control, Buck Wing was approached by the commissioner of the league to lead a new expansion team as it's manager. Making his choice, Buck must now take a team full of old and new players to the Promised Land and keep them from killing one another. Can he do it? Tune in to find out! #TheNastyOne

16. Middle of the Pack

AN: FINALLY THE NASTY ONE HAS COME BACK TO FANFICTION!

Welcome back everyone to the next chapter here in the Hot Corners Dynasty Storyline. Last chapter we saw the beginning of year two as the team started out at 2 – 2 while getting to see some of the new acquisitions/rookies in action. Can the team get some momentum going this time out, or will they continue to tread water or sink to the bottom of the standings? Let's jump right in and find out!

Chapter 16: Middle of the Pack

== Three Days Later (Game #5 Moonstars) ==

The team made the trip out to Emerald Diamond stadium once again for their next conference matchup against the red hot Moonstars who came into the game undefeated at 4 – 0 on the season. Kaiser (1 – 0, 5.14 ERA, 1.29 WHIP) would do battle against arguably one of the best pitchers in the entire league, Moonstars ace righty Alisha Woodrow (0 – 0, 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP) who got a no decision in their first contest, but the bullpen came through to get the win. Buck made some changes to the lineup before the game due to some mojo issues, as well as have Lars get some rest. Rookie catcher Apollo Oliver was back in behind the plate, rookie outfielder Arms Yu would be making his Super Mega League debut in left field to let Big Country get out of his own head at the plate, and second year shortstop Digg Efforto would get the start at third to allow Lee to do the same. The Moonstars took the field as the Wednesday afternoon contest got underway with picture perfect weather conditions.

== Top of the 1st ==

The team knew when facing Woodrow you needed to jump out early on her otherwise you were in for a long day once she got into the groove. Geronimo James started the inning by singling back up the middle on an outside fastball from Woodrow. Berko then came up and Woodrow oddly couldn't find the zone and walked him on four straight pitches. Sportswood came up next and took a ball and a strike from Woodrow before roping a hanging slider into the right center gap. Neither of the outfielders could get there as it bounced around out there and hit off the bottom of the outfield wall. James scored easily from second as Berko came all the way around from first to score on the double as Sportswood celebrated from second base as the team went up 2 – 0 quickly.

Woodrow retired Jumps on a flyout to right as Sportswood advanced to third base, and then retired LeBoink on a strike out when he chased an inside fastball. With two outs all the pressure was on Oliver as the rookie came up with a clutch RBI chance early. He didn't waste it as he sat on the changeup and smacked the off-speed pitch back up the middle for a single as Sportswood walked home to make it a 3 – 0 lead. Pickle then came up and grounded out to shortstop for the final out of the inning.

== Bottom of the 1st ==

With the early lead a lot of the pressure was taken off of Kaiser's shoulders as he walked out to face the hot Moonstars lineup. The left handed hitting CF Windy Wheels led off with a single to right as the speedster was on with no outs. Rookie RF Jeffery Klopp was up next and drew a six pitch walk to put another runner on with no outs as Kaiser was slowly working himself into a jam. SS Bobby Bashe was up next and got some revenge against his old team by singling back up the middle, a good throw from James kept Wheels locked down at third as the bases were now loaded with no outs.

3B Herbert Hackman was the next batter and he came in slumping on the season, but got an RBI as he flew out to deep right which allowed Wheels to score on the sacrifice fly to make it a 3 – 1 game. Rookie first baseman Archibald Knox walked up looking to come through for his team with runners on the corners as Klopp had advanced to third on the sacrifice fly. Kaiser showed his mettle though and got the rookie to bounce into a double play (4 – 6 – 3) as he chased a low forkball and allowed Kaiser to escape the inning with minimal damage.

== Top of the 2nd ==

Rookie Arms Yu strolled to the plate as he got ready for his first at-bat in the Super Mega League against one of the best pitchers they had to offer.

'Okay just like we practiced, don't chase anything stupid. Take the first pitch and see what she's got.' thought Arms as he stood in to watch the first pitch fastball that came in and almost clocked him in the dome. Thankfully he managed to duck away in time as he dusted himself off after getting back up.

'We playing things that way now are we? Well two can play this game bra.' thought Yu as he gritted his teeth and stood in for the second pitch. He looked to cover the outside part of the plate and was rewarded for his guess as he went with the pitch a stroked a beautiful liner that dropped in front of Klopp for a base hit. He got on base and glared down the pitcher as he dabbed on her as the ball was rolled into the Hot Corners dugout to be given to him upon his return.

Efforto was the next batter and everyone knew that he was a horrible hitter and the Moonstars weren't taking him seriously at all. Woodrow left a curveball in the middle of the plate on the first pitch and the Italian wasted little time in driving it to the left center gap. The left fielder managed to cut it off and held Efforto to just a single, by Yu hustled all the way to third and dove in headfirst to beat the throw as that put runners on the corners with no outs. James was back up for his second at-bat and timed a slider perfectly on the first pitch as he grounded back up the middle for a seeing-eye single. Yu walked in from third to score the fourth run of the game for the Hot Corners as they now led 4 – 1. The momentum would end there though, as Berko struck out when he swung late on a high and away fastball, Sportswood flew out to right field, and Jumps grounded out to shortstop one after the other.

== Bottom of the 4th ==

Both pitchers settled into a groove after that as the score remained 4 – 1 into the bottom half of the fourth inning. It looked like it would remain that way as well as Kaiser set down the first two batters with minimal issues. LF Gustav Gustavson had other ideas though and smashed a two-seam fastball from Kaiser that hung in the middle of the plate out to the left center seats for his first homer of the season as the gap shrunk a bit to 4 – 2. Kaiser rebounded to retire the next batter though as he got through the inning.

== Top of the 5th ==

Berko decided to answer Gustavson's blast with one of his own as he belted a fastball left down the middle by Woodrow to the left center seats as he first homer of the season made it a 5 – 2 game. Woodrow buckled down though and retired the next three batters to make it through the inning.

== Top of the 6th ==

Kaiser got through the bottom half of the inning with no issues, as the same couldn't be said for Woodrow. She retired the lead-off batter, but then surrendered two singles and was yanked from the game by the Moonstars' manager. Righty SP/RP Deft Weddums (0.00 ERA, 0.33 WHIP) entered to put the kibosh on the situation and succeeded with a double play ball as the Hot Corners failed to break the game open.

== Bottom of the 8th ==

Both of the pitchers cruised along until the bottom of the 8th when a leadoff single by nine hitter 2B Pepe Vinicio ended Kaiser's day as Buck made the move to bring in rookie Troy Harrison (4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) to try and go for a six out save. Harrison was still showing some signs of nervousness as he lost a 7 pitch battle to Wheels as he walked him to bring the tying run to the plate with no outs and runners on at first and second.

'Come on Troy focus! You've got to be confident and have the swagger that everyone else believes you have. Stop fucking around and show these clowns what you've got!' though Harrison to himself as he stepped off and wiped his brow after surrendering the walk.

'You keep doing shit like this and you'll be released in no time! It's time to make some shit happen!' he thought as he pounded the ball into his glove and got back on the rubber and glared down the next batter.

It was a rookie battle as Klopp faced off against Harrison to see who would come through in the high pressure situation. Klopp looked to have won when he hit a liner up the middle to the right of second, but Jumps reacted and dove to snag the ball before it hit the dirt to record the first out as Harrison tipped his cap to the nice effort. Bashed then walked up as he grounded out to Sportswood unassisted as the other runners advanced to second and third. That brought up Hackman who continued his slumping ways as he struck out looking on a perfectly framed low and away fastball for his second strikeout of the game as Harrison came off the mound pumping his fist and high-fiving Oliver as the two walked into the dugout together. Harrison came back out in the ninth and through a perfect three up, three down inning as the Hot Corners handed the Moonstars their first loss of the season.

== End of Game Summary (Game 5) ==

Hot Corners 5 – Moonstars 2

WP: Kaiser (2 – 0) LP: Alisha Woodrow (0 – 1) SV: Harrison (1) POTG: Sportswood (2 – 4, 2B, 2 RBI)

Following the game Lars tried a Gravy Gulp protein shake as he got an immediate benefit to his throwing strength (+5 ARM), but lost some agility behind the plate (-2 FLD). Amazo also got a guest starring role on the reality TV show as he showed off his arm strength, but lost some of his accuracy in the process (+3 VEL, -2 ACC).

== The Next Day (Game 6 vs. Moose) ==

The team returned home for an evening contest against the division rival Moose who came into the contest with a record of 2 – 4 on the season. Rookie southpaw Connor Frazier Jr. (0 – 1, 15.75 ERA, 3.00 WHIP) looked to silence the doubters against the veteran southpaw Joeffrey Rockman (0 – 0, 7.36 ERA, 1.91 WHIP) who also came in looking to rebound after a disastrous first start that he somehow avoided getting the loss for. Yu and Efforto would both remain in the lineup as they moved to RF and SS respectively to give the slumping LeBoink and Pickle some time off. Big Country returned to the lineup in LF as Lee reentered to play at 3B.

== Top of the 1st ==

The game started off the same as where Frazier's last start ended, poorly. The rookie gave up singles to both 3B Kenneth "Keg" Gutterson, one of Buck's old players, and SS Nacho Crisp to put two on with no outs. He then managed to get CF Heronimus Jackson to ground into a double play (3 – 4 – 1) to relieve some of the pressure as the crowd started to get a little less antsy. 1B Perry Quaker then came up and hit a hard shot to the hole between third and short as Lee laid out for it. But, she was unable to secure it as the ball popped out of her glove into left field as Gutterson scored to make it 1 – 0 on the single. Frazier buckled down and got 2B Tyree Gangnam to ground out to second to end the inning.

== Top of the 2nd ==

The Hot Corners failed to score in the bottom half of the first, as the Moose came back up in the second to put more pressure on Connor as his father could only look on at what would soon become one of the worst innings a Hot Corners pitcher has had in the league. Speedy LF Stallion Johnson led off with a single into left before promptly stealing second base. Frazier managed to get DH Fred Bobbit to ground back to him for the first out as he momentarily held Johnson at second. Johnson then stole third base on the first pitch of the next at-bat which ended with a single by switch-hitting C Pedro Nixon into the left center gap to score Johnson and make it 2 – 0. RF Irene Fast was retired on a flyout to right as Frazier was one out away from escaping the inning.

That would not be allowed by the Moose offense as Gutterson singled to center to keep the inning alive before Crisp duplicated him and loaded up the bases with one out. Boos from the crowd started to intensify as Frazier tried to bare down against Jackson who already had hit into a double play. But, he left a hanging breaking ball in the center of the plate and Jackson smacked it to the right center field wall where it hit off the top of it. All three runners came around to score on the bases clearing double to make it a 5 – 0 game. Booing was now full force as Frazier tried to zero in on the hitter:

'Focus buddy you can do it.' thought Connor as he unleashed a first pitch changeup to the low and away part of the zone.

'Fuck! He's a low ball hitter, this is going to hurt.' he thought as Quaker unloaded on it and went with the pitch towards the right field seats where it landed twelve rows deep. The ball was thrown back on the field by a strong armed fan as the booing multiplied towards Connor who tried to shrivel up to nothing on the mound. Quaker crossed the plate as he third homer of the season made it a 7 – 0 game. Gangnam and Johnson then singled to reach base to make it six consecutive two out hits, but Frazier finally ended the inning when Bobbit grounded out to Lee.

He hustled quickly to the dugout with his head down as he shrunk onto the bench and could only wallow in his misery.

== Bottom of the 2nd ==

Jumps led off the inning with a sharp double into the right field corner as he managed to outrun Fast's throw to put himself in scoring position to lead off the inning. That hustle was rewarded as Berko went deep for the second consecutive game as he crushed an up and middle high fastball into the right field seats for his second homer of the season. The moonshot was enough to lessen some of the booing as it was now a 7 – 2 game. The team looked to claw even closer, but the rally died before the lineup could flip over completely.

== Bottom of the 3rd ==

Frazier pitched a rare clean inning as he held the deficit to five runs for his offense which looked to be coming alive. The first two batters were retired, before Sportswood singled off of Rockman to keep inning alive. Jumps then came up for his second at-bat in back to back innings as he smacked a shot off the top of the CF wall as it missed a homerun by mere inches. Sportswood scored easily from first as he made it a 7 – 3 game. Berko then continued his hot hitting as he roped a single to center which allowed Jumps to score from second largely in part to Jackson's weak arm as it was now 7 – 4.

== Top of the 4th ==

The inning started off poorly again for Frazier as he surrendered a double to Quaker and a single to Gangnam as Buck had finally seen enough. He made his way out to the mound with a batting helmet as he took the ball from Frazier as Oliver joined him at the mound as well.

"Sorry for leaving you in so long Connor, I was hoping you could at least get through this inning." said Buck regretfully as Connor waved him off.

"Its fine Buck, but what's the batting helmet for?" he asked in a disappointed tone with a questioning look.

"Heard some fans were going to chuck some beer cans at you on your way to the dugout, so it's for your protection more than anything. Apollo escort him in case any of them get by security up there." said Buck as he passed the helmet to Connor who put it on and nodded.

"You got it boss, hold my mitt." he said as he took it off and cracked his knuckles as Buck did so. The two made their way to the dugout and sure enough they did start throwing cans at Connor, who thankfully had the helmet to protect his head. One fan managed to scale the railing above the dugout and jumped onto the field as he charged Connor, but Apollo pushed him out of the way and gave him a clothesline as the man did a full back flip off it and landed face down in the grass in front of the dugout where security handcuffed him and escorted him off the field as Oliver started getting booed before flipping those fans off as the others cheered at him squashing the rowdy fan.

He returned to the mound and regained his mitt as rookie Kyson Manning had entered from the bullpen at this point (3.00 ERA, 0.67 WHIP). And was still slightly terrified at Oliver and that moment he just witnessed made it even worse.

"Kyson just do your job and try to get us through this game without too many more runs scoring. No pressure." said Buck as he handed him the ball and patted the back of his right shoulder before heading to the dugout as casually as possible.

'Sometimes I think he's a little too casual.' thought Kyson as he warmed up and was ready to go against the next batter. He gave up a double to Johnson in the left center gap to make it an 8 – 4 game, before allowing Bobbit to single in a run on a hit to right field (9 – 4). But he bore down and got Nixon to pop out to him on the right side of the mound, and then got Fast to hit into a double play to end the inning (1 – 6 – 3). All nine runs on the scoreboard were charged to Frazier as his ERA ballooned to 20.57.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

The game remained scoreless into the sixth as both Rockman and Manning had gotten into some good grooves. Rockman got the first out, before Lee hit a sinking liner into right center field. Fast charged the ball and slid for it, but the slide was timed too late as the ball sailed over her outstretched glove and all the way to the wall. By the time she'd corralled it and got it back in to the infield, Lee was at third with a stand up, one out triple. The team would fail to score her though as Rockman did a tight-rope act to get out of danger.

== Top of the 7th ==

Kyson ran out of gas after the sixth and was relieved by Haze, (2.70 ERA, 0.90 WHIP), who entered the game to try and continue Kyson's job of keeping the score where it was. Haze retired the first batter, but Fast singled into right field immediately afterwards. She then stole second and third base on the first two pitches of the at-bat to Gutterson. Gutterson then managed to ground out to Jumps which allowed Fast to score from third and make it 10 – 4. Haze managed to retire the next batter to end the inning.

== Bottom of the 8th ==

The score remained at 10 – 4 as Rockman exited after seven decent innings of work for lefty reliever Charlie Best (3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP). Best threw a clean inning as he kept the Hot Corners offense in check.

== Bottom of the 9th ==

Haze responded with a clean top half of the ninth as the team tried to rally late. Backup catcher Lars Stadkleef pinch hit with two outs for the slumping Big Country who was hitless to this point in the game, and managed to single in McClure who pinch hit earlier in the inning for Oliver making it 10 – 5. Righty Carla Tolbert relieved Best to get the final out of the game to seal the victory for the Moose.

== End of Game 6 Summary ==

Moose 10 – Hot Corners 5

WP: Rockman (1 – 0) LP: Frazier Jr. (0 – 2) POTG: Quaker (3 – 5, HR, 2B, 3RBI)

Despite the loss, the team's 3 – 3 record kept them in second place as the first place Freebooters lose to the Moonstars who bounce back after their loss to the Hot Corners. Buck received word that RF Seymour Socks was finally signed by the Heaters at $3.3 MIL which was a significant pay cut from his time on the Hot Corners. Just goes to show, being an ass will come back to bite you later. McClure received a surgical procedure on his arm to improve his throw power, which was successful (+6 ARM).

== Two Days Later (Game 7 vs. Wild Pigs) ==

The team had another division contest up next as the Wild Pigs came to town for a weekend series in a rematch of last year's playoff matchup. Rookie Messiah Presidente was on the mound looking to continue his hot start (1 – 0, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP), as he was going up against righty Gerry Rawner (0 – 1, 8.44 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) who was signed in free agency after leaving the Sawteeth. The pitching matchup was in the team's favor as Rawner was the fourth man in the new Wild Pigs' rotation. Stadkleef would get the start at catcher to Oliver some rest, LeBoink was coming back into right field, and Pickle was back out at shortstop.

== Top of the 1st ==

Newly acquired switch hitting Elvis Stanley, another of Buck's old Blowfish players, was leading off playing 2B today. He started the game with a single up the middle as it got past the diving Jumps. SS Snag Roper then singled to right field as the pressure was on right out of the gate. Former Hot Corner DH Randy Mann was up next and he doubled to the left center gap as Stanley scored to make it a 1 – 0 game.

1B Spanky Wagnerd was up next as he hit a grounder to shortstop as Mann broke for third and was caught in a rundown that ended in him being tagged out by James. But, Roper scored on the fielder's choice to make it a 2 – 0 game. The inning didn't end there though as the next three Wild Pigs' batters RF Nance Tools, backup C Russ Mata, and 3B Ralph Blue, all singled to make it a 3 – 0 game.

Pres rebounded to strikeout LF Enrique Goyo swinging on a low and in curveball for the second out, but then gave up a single to CF Mannon Moon who made it a 4 – 0 game. Stanley was up for his second at-bat of the inning as he smacked a pitch to deep center field, but the park was just big enough to hold it as James made the catch on the warning track for the final out of the long inning.

== Bottom of the 1st ==

Rawner came out looking to enjoy the early lead, but was stuck in a two out jam as runners were at the corners with Big Country up. He left a fastball in the middle of the plate as Swiner deposited it into center for a single as James walked home from third to make it a 4 – 1 game. LeBoink then walked up and singled to center as Sportswood came around to score and made it a 4 – 2 game. Lee then hit a hard liner to second, but Stanley was there to put it away and end the threat.

== Bottom of the 3rd ==

Pres settled down and pitched two clean innings as Rawner pitched a clean second and hoped to duplicate that in the third. He got the first two outs after Sportswood led off the inning with a single. He then looked to set down LeBoink, but hung him a curveball down the middle and LeBoink crushed it to the left field seats just above the area between both team bullpens. His first homer of the season tied the game up at 4 all.

== Top of the 6th ==

The game would remain tied until the top half of the sixth when Pres gave up a leadoff single to Blue and a follow up double to Goyo which allowed Blue to score all the way from first and make it a 5 – 4 game. This ended Pres' day as Buck made the move to the bullpen and brought in lefty Joseph Broseph (0.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP) to try and hold the score there. Broseph got Moon to strike out looking on a high and in two-seam fastball, before getting Stanley to line into a 4 – 3 double play to end the inning.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

Rawner remained out on the mound for the sixth inning as he got LeBoink to ground out to Roper for the first out. Lee walked up and roped a hanging breaking ball to the right center gap as it got down out of the reach of both outfielders before banging up against the wall. Lee was hustling all the way around and managed to slide into third before the throw to leg out her second triple of the season. Pickle then walked up and was faced with a drawn in infield, but shrugged and shot a hard grounder past both diving infielders into right field for a base hit as Lee walked home to tie the game up at 5.

That ended Rawner's day as lefty Alana Lantana (9.64 ERA, 1.93 WHIP) entered to try and hold the Hot Corners lineup scoreless. Pickle promptly stole second on the first pitch to Lars as Mata didn't have the best arm. Lars then grounded out to Roper as Pickle advanced to third on the fielder's choice. James then came up and singled to right as Pickle walked in from third to give the Hot Corners their first lead of the day at 6 – 5. Berko then grounded a hard shot into right field as James was digging hard from first and looked to score, but a strong throw from Tools prevented that as he was tagged out at home to end the inning.

== Top of the 8th ==

Broseph and Lantana traded scoreless sevenths as the Wild Pigs looked to rally in the eighth. Tools led off the inning with a solo homer into the left center seats on a high and in four-seam fastball from Broseph. Her third of the season made it a tie game once again. Broseph retired the next batter, but then gave up another solo homer to Blue who pulled a high and in four-seam fastball into the left field seats to break the tie. It was Blue's first of the season as the Wild Pigs celebrated the 7 – 6 lead. Goyo followed him up with a double into left center, and Moon then singled to center off Jumps' diving attempt to score Goyo and make it an 8 – 6 game. Broseph retired Mata, but gave up a single to Stanley as that was enough for Buck.

Buck brought in Harrison (2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) to try and slam the door that was now completely ajar with runners at the corners. Roper drew a walk to load the bases as Mann then came up and singled to left to score Moon and made it a 9 – 6 game. He then finally slammed the door by retiring Wagnerd to get out of the inning. The team failed to rally in the bottom half of the inning and in the ninth as they were given the loss on a blown save by Broseph.

== End of Game 7 Summary ==

WP: Lantana LP: Broseph (0 – 1) POTG: Blue (3 – 5, HR, 2RBI)

The team's loss dropped them to third in the division despite the Moose's loss as well. They now sported a 3 – 4 record and looked to split the weekend series.

== The Next Day (Game 8 vs. Wild Pigs) ==

The following afternoon, the team was back at it again as they looked to get some revenge against the Wild Pigs in the matinee matchup. Terrok Smith (0 – 1, 9.53 ERA, 1.94 WHIP) was on the bump looking to rebound after his first outing as he drew Wild Pigs' new ace righty Myles Shavewell (1 – 0, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP) who was one of the pitchers that forced the Hot Corners out of the playoffs last year. Arms got his third start of the season as he was in left field to replace the slumping Big Country as he'd be batting in the eighth slot of the lineup.

== Top of the 1st ==

Terrok surrendered a leadoff double to Roper, but then set down the next two batters as Stanley came up for his first plate appearance. He managed to come through for his club as he single to right center which scored Roper to make it a 1 – 0 game. Terrok retired the next batter though to end the threat there.

== Bottom of the 1st ==

Shavewell immediately worked himself into trouble as he walked James to start the inning, before Berko singled into right field to put two on with no outs. Sportswood came up and kept up his torrid hitting pace as he roped a liner into the right field corner as James scored from second easily and Berko advanced to third to keep the pressure on in the 1 – 1 game. Shavewell retired the next two hitters, but gave up a single to Pickle back up the middle that brought both runners in to score and made it a 3 – 1 game.

== Bottom of the 3rd ==

The teams traded zeros in the second, as Terrok put up another one in the third. Shavewell looked to do so as well, but ended up loaded the bases with one out. Pickle then hit a seeing eye single back up the middle to score Sportswood to make it a 4 – 1 game. Shavewell retired the next batter, but then gave up a single to left off the bat of Yu to make it a 6 – 1 game as Jumps and LeBoink came around to score. Pickle got caught in a rundown and was retired between second and third for the second out as Shavewell then retired Stadkleef to end the inning.

== Top of the 4th ==

Terrok gave up a leadoff single into right center off the bat of Blue as the Wild Pigs looked to rally. Moon was up next and the centerfielder delivered a homer into the right field seats as he turned on the high and in changeup from Smith. His first of the season made it a 6 – 3 game as Terrok bore down and retired the next three to get through the inning.

== Top of the 6th ==

The game remained at 6 – 3 as Terrok worked into the sixth inning retiring the first two batters. Unfortunately he gave up back to back singles to put runners at the corners and Buck decided to make a bullpen move. Coming into the game was Kyson Manning (1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) as the rookie lefty looked to strand the runners. He succeeded in his task as he got Moon to lineout to Lee to end the inning.

== Bottom of the 6th ==

Shavewell worked into the sixth as well as he retired the first two batters, but gave up a single to Stadkleef which ended his day. The Wild Pigs' manager brought in second year southpaw Hander O'Speciallo (7.94 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) to try and keep the game where it was, and he succeeded by getting a shallow flyout to center off the bat of James to end the inning.

== Top of the 8th ==

Manning got through the seventh cleanly, but gave up a single in the eighth with one out as Moon came up and grounded into a FC for the second out. With Moon on first now, Roper singled into center as Moon managed to come all the way around from first to score and made it a 6 – 4 game. Manning bounced back to retire the next batter and end the inning.

== Bottom of the 8th ==

LeBoink led off the inning with a single to center off O'Speciallo before being replaced by Big Country as the pinch runner. Pickle followed him up with a single to left as Big Country stopped at second on the play. With two on and no outs, Lee walked up and delivered her third straight game with a triple as she roped one into the right center gap past both outfielders. This scored both Big Country and Pickle to make it an 8 – 4 game. Yu was next up and the rookie came through with a single to left as Lee walked home and made it a 9 – 4 game.

== Top of the 9th ==

Stanley was the leadoff batter against the tiring Manning as he capitalized on a mistake up and in changeup. The ball clanged off the left field foul pole as Stanley circled the bases on his first homer of the season to make it a 9 – 5 game. Buck made the call to the bullpen after that and brought in Haze (2.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP) who slammed the door by retiring the next three batters in order to end the game with another W for the good guys.

== End of Game 8 Summary ==

Hot Corners 9 – Wild Pigs 5

WP: Smith (1 – 1) LP: Shavewell (1 – 1) POTG: Roper (4 – 4, 2B, RBI, R)

The win moved the team back up the division standings to second place as they sit at one game back of the Freebooters with a 4 – 4 record. Buck received word that Jayde Cox was picked up by the Sirloins at $7.9 MIL to replace the slumping Walker Runs at second which made him smile at her getting another opportunity to prove herself. Buck also scheduled some player development workouts ahead of the next game as Efforto took some Yoga Classes under Sportswood's direction which helped limber him up (+1 SPD, +3 FLD), and Lars took some extra caffeine shots making him laser focused for his next start (+3 CON, +12 FLD). The team was eagerly awaiting their next opponent as they found themselves in a good spot despite only having a .500 record.

AN: And that's a wrap on this chapter, as the team manages to tread water in the standings and remain in second place only a game behind the Freebooters. Can the team rally in the second half of the season to take over once again, or will they crumble and fall short of their expectations? Tune in next time to find out as the next quarter of the season will be covered and the playoff picture begins to take shape. Catch ya later; this is "The Nasty One" signing off!

-PRAK #TheNastyOne