AN: FINALLY THE NASTY ONE HAS COME BACK TO FANFICTION! It's good to be back with another chapter to this growing saga as we reach the quarter century mark. It's my second time reaching this milestone with a story on this site, but this one is twice the word count as the other story that made it this far which is a definite indicator of how far my writing has come over the years. I can't thank you guys enough for coming back and reading these chapters every time another one is posted. It gives me so much confidence and motivation to keep churning these out and I just want to say thanks once more. Let's get on with the story!
Chapter 25: Wring Him Up!
== The Next Four Games ==
Following the victory, the team boarded the team jet and flew back to Cincinnati for the next home stand as the first team to visit was the Colorado Rockies™. Before the game, the team read Clay's beat as he detailed his first week with the club and how much gelling there was amongst the members leading towards a first place team since the start of the season. The guys loosened up after reading his glowing review and were more welcoming to him as the week went on.
The first game in the series Monday evening ended in a seven to one victory for the good guys. Cingrani towed the rubber and earned his first win by going six and a third innings while striking out nine and giving up one run to improve his record to one and one. Offense came from multiple sources as Brandon, Negron, and Cozart all hit a run scoring single. Cozart also contributed a sacrifice fly to the cause, while Brayan and Cruz each chipped in a run scoring double (their first and second of the season respectively). Cruz also hit a solo homer which was his second of the season.
Tuesday evening brought game two and the second win for the Reds by a score of four to one. Dennis went the distance and completed all nine innings only giving up the one run and recording nine strikeouts as he improved to one and one on the year. Runs for the offense came off of a single from Bruce, two singles from Negron, and when Brandon hit into a double play which didn't count as a run batted in.
The final game of the series on Wednesday afternoon ended in a loss by a score of six to three. De Sclafani lasted only five innings and gave up four runs with only one being earned thanks to a poorly timed fielding error from Cruz. His record dropped to one and one on the year. The offense scored one run on Eaton's fourth double of the season, and the other two scored on Brandon's third homer of the season.
The next team to come into town was the Chicago Cubs™ as they looked to gain some ground in the division over the next four games. The first game on Thursday evening ended on a good note to the tune of a five to one victory. Hughes followed Dennis' lead and threw another complete game as he recorded eight strikeouts and only gave up one run en route to improving his record to one and one on the season. Runs scored by the offense came from two singles by Brandon, a sacrifice fly from Cruz; Negron's fourth double of the season, and Billy's third triple of the season. Following the game, catcher Eugenio Dias was sent down to Indianapolis to make room for the returning 1B Joey Votto who'd missed the last two weeks due to a pulled left groin.
== Game Day (Friday April 22, 2016) ==
It was a modestly cool evening as temperature settled in at fifty three degrees Fahrenheit with clouds covering up the setting sun and a slight three miles per hour breeze blowing in from the right field stands. A majority of the fans decided to still come out for this division rivalry match as thirty six thousand six hundred and forty five fans filled up eighty seven percent of the stadium. The game was set for the local start time of 7:10 PM CST as umpire James Kingsley gave the sign for the game to start as Charlie Brown finished warming up. Before the game he'd been presented with his CY Young® award from last season and he basked in the glory from that moment. He'd hoped that feeling would carry him to his fifth victory of the season.
== Top of the 1st ==
Shortstop Starlin Castro was the leadoff hitter for the Cubs tonight and he looked to make a statement that would get Charlie Brown out of his comfort zone early. Unfortunately for him that didn't come to fruition as he struck out after four pitches when he chased a low curveball out of the zone. Second baseman Javier Baez walked up next, and he was the second hottest hitter on the team as he came into the game hitting safely eight times in his last twenty two at-bats over the last five games. Baez fared about the same as Castro when he struck out swinging after five pitches when he was early on a low and away curveball. The third batter was first baseman Anthony Rizzo who looked to at least put the ball in play this inning. He too struck out after four pitches when he was frozen on a low and away curveball that Kingsley said was in the zone. Charlie Brown walked off the mound with a hat tip to the crowd as he showed off what earned him the CY Young® award last season.
== Bottom of the 1st ==
Billy led off the game for the Reds against right handed hurler Jake Arrieta by flying out to the right fielder. Brandon followed that up by striking out when he chased a Cutter that was high and away from the zone. Votto capped the inning by striking out when he was late on a low and in fastball.
== Top of the 2nd ==
Right fielder Jorge Soler was the first batter of the inning as he came in as the Cubs best hitter with a batting average of .368 on the season. Much like his predecessors Soler was victimized by a Charlie Brown curveball when he chased it low and away from the zone on the fifth pitch of his at-bat. Catcher Miguel Montero was the next batter as he succeeded in making contact when he hit the fourth pitch high into the air over by the first base seats. Votto ranged over to it and reached out to find the wall as he timed the ball's descent towards him. His timing was spot on as he reached over into the stands and caught it as it descended into the second row of seats as the fans had enough sense to move out of his path. Third baseman Tommy LaStella was the next batter as he hit a sharp grounder up the first base line. Votto dove to his left quickly and stopped the ball before getting up and beating LaStella to the bag to record the final out of the inning.
== Bottom of the 2nd ==
Bruce was first up as he struck out on a high and away fastball for Arrieta's third consecutive strikeout. Cruz then put the ball in play but ended up grounding out to Baez at second for the second out. Brayan then concluded the inning by grounding out to Castro at shortstop for the final out of the inning.
== Top of the 3rd ==
Left fielder Junior Lake was first up for the Cubs as he struck out chasing another low and away curveball that dipped out of the zone. Center fielder Arismendy Alcantara walked up as he was not off to a great start this season with a batting average of .170. He had the first positive result for them as he drew a five pitch walk off of Charlie Brown. Pitcher Jake Arrieta then bunted the first pitch to Votto as he threw to Brandon covering first for the second out on the sacrifice, which allowed Alcantara to reach second safely. Castro walked up for his second at-bat as he looked to drive in the first run of the game. He hit the second pitch right on the ground to Brandon who fielded it cleanly and fired to first for the final out.
== Bottom of the 3rd ==
Negron led off the inning by drawing a walk off of Arrieta. Cozart then bunted him over to second as he gave Charlie Brown an opportunity with a runner in scoring position. Charlie Brown dug in and sat on a fastball that he drove to left field. Lake was not respecting Charlie Brown's batting prowess as he was shallow and had to race backwards to go after it. Realizing he wouldn't make it, he dove for it and missed as the ball landed behind him. Charlie Brown walked into second with an easy first double of the season, but Negron had to hold up at third since he tagged up in case the ball was caught.
Billy then walked up and singled into left on the fifth pitch of his at-bat as Negron scored easily and Charlie Brown advanced to third. Brandon followed suit as he hit the fourth pitch into right as Charlie Brown scored and Billy advanced all the way to third. The momentum ended there though as Votto got wrung up on a high and away fastball, while Bruce was wrung up on an inside cutter to end the inning. Despite the abrupt end to the inning, Cincy still possessed a two to zero lead.
== Top of the 4th ==
Baez led off the inning for the Cubs with a three pitch groundout to Cozart at shortstop. Rizzo followed him up by chopping the second pitch to the left side of the pitcher's mound. Charlie Brown's windup had him falling off to the left side and easily caught the ball with his momentum as he ran over and tagged Rizzo for the second out. Soler walked up looking to avoid another one-two-three inning, but failed as he struck out after three pitches when he was late on the low and inside heater.
== Bottom of the 4th ==
The Reds' half inning was less productive as Cruz struck out looking at a fastball, while Brayan and Negron both missed fastballs to give Arrieta his third one-two-three inning as well.
== Top of the 5th ==
Montero led off the inning by flying the sixth pitch of the at-bat to medium deep center where Billy made the catch for the first out. LaStella followed that up with a three pitch groundout to Cozart. Lake concluded the inning with a three pitch groundout to Votto who stepped on the bag himself for the final out. The whispers started spreading throughout the stadium as the Cubs were still hitless on the evening.
== Bottom of the 5th ==
It was a rather pedestrian inning for the Reds in the fifth as Cozart started the inning with a groundout to Baez. Charlie Brown then hit the first pitch hard into left field, but Lake was ready this time and barely had to move to record the second out. Billy did draw a walk out of Arrieta, but Brandon struck out chasing an outside Cutter for the final out of the inning.
== Top of the 6th ==
Alcantara was the first batter of the inning as he was walked up for his first official at-bat of the game after drawing a walk his first time up. This time he didn't fare as well as he struck out after a seven pitch at-bat when he missed the high and middle fastball.
Arrieta was the next batter as he fell behind zero and two in the count before swinging at the third pitch.
CRACK!
His bat shattered on impact as the ball weakly rolled to Charlie Brown's left. Charlie Brown dodged the flying shards that landed to his right as he fielded the ball and fired to first for the second out. Castro then walked up for his third at-bat as he once again struck out for the final out of the inning when he missed the fourth pitch curve that was in the dirt. Brayan didn't field it cleanly as Castro broke for first base. Brayan managed to recover quickly though and threw him out a first for the final out. The whispers started getting louder as this was Charlie Brown's second time holding a team hitless through six innings, meaning he was only nine outs away from achieving a no-hitter.
== Bottom of the 6th ==
Votto led off the inning with a solid flyout to Lake for the first out. Bruce followed that up by striking out for the third time as he recorded the proverbial "hat trick" for the game. Cruz ended the inning with a groundout to Castro at short.
== Top of the 7th ==
Baez was the first batter of the inning as he looked to break up Charlie Brown's no-hitter. He took the first pitch Palmball outside for ball one. Charlie Brown then readjusted and brought another Palmball into the zone, but the ball didn't break and it hung in the middle of the zone.
THWACK!
Baez didn't miss the mistake and he belted it towards the Batter's Eye in dead center field. Billy jogged back to the wall, but didn't even make the jump as there was no doubt it was a goner as it landed in the back part of the grass growing out there. Charlie Brown got a nice hand as he tipped his cap to the crowd and also to Baez as he crossed the plate to cut the lead down to two to one. Baez returned the favor by tipping his helmet showing his respect of Charlie Brown's skills. Now with that achievement gone, Charlie Brown needed to bear down and keep the lead as the bullpen started warming up behind him.
Rizzo was the next batter as he chopped the first pitch back over the mound. Charlie Brown leaped and couldn't reach it as he turned to go after it. The situation looked bad as Rizzo was chugging up the line, but Cozart came out of nowhere and barehanded the ball as he unleashed a strike to first. Votto stretched out and the ball slammed into his mitt just ahead of Rizzo's foot on the bag as the first out was recorded. Soler followed it up with a groundout to Brandon after two pitches and Montero ended the inning with a groundout to Cozart after two pitches as well. It was a good bounce back from Charlie Brown as he kept the score at two to one.
== Bottom of the 7th ==
Brayan led off the inning with a groundout to Rizzo who flipped the ball to Arrieta covering the bag for the first out. Negron was up next and struck out swinging on a high and away Cutter that broke out of the zone.
Cozart kept the inning alive by grounding the ball up the middle into center field for a two out single. Charlie Brown then walked up after getting the okay from Price as he dug in for his third at-bat. It didn't end well, as Charlie Brown grounded the third pitch directly to Castro who flipped to Baez covering the bag at second for the final out of the inning.
== Top of the 8th ==
LaStella led off the inning against Charlie Brown as set-up reliever Glen Perkins was warming up in the bullpen. Charlie Brown got him to ground out to Votto for the first out after three pitches. Lake was the second batter up as he struck out for the second time on the evening when he chased another low and away curveball out of the zone. Alcantara was the next man up as he went after the first pitch and drove it into medium deep right field. Bruce didn't have to move as he made the catch for the final out of Charlie Brown's sixth one-two-three inning.
== Bottom of the 8th ==
Right handed reliever Neil Ramírez came in to relieve Arrieta as he looked to keep it a one run game. Billy grounded out to Rizzo to start the inning, which was followed up by Brandon flying out to Alcantara in center field. Votto then recorded his first hit of the season as he doubled over Soler's head in right to put a runner in scoring position with two outs. Bruce strode up as he looked to put a ball in play and avoid his fourth strikeout of the game. Sadly, he was unable to do so as he chased a high fastball out of the zone for the dreaded "golden sombrero".
== Top of the 9th ==
Price made the move to the bullpen as the closer, Chapman, came on to try and record the save. Pinch hitter Wilson Contreas and Castro were set down on strikes, but Baez made it interesting by hitting his third double of the season. With the runner in scoring position, Chapman bore down and got Rizzo to groundout to Brandon for the final out of the game as he picked up his fifth save of the season.
Charlie Brown was named Player of the Game as he was pulled aside by Double D after celebrating with his team on the field.
"I'm here with Charlie Brown as he had a one hitter over eight innings of work in today's game. Charlie Brown I have to ask, were you aware of the no-hitter opportunity?"
"Honestly no, I was just going out there and wringing them up. I was just doing my job so we could earn another victory."
"Before the game you were presented with your Cy Young Award plaque, how did it feel knowing that you've accomplished something only a small amount of pitchers have in their careers?"
"It felt surreal to me. I just kept thinking to myself that you really have made it this far, and your hard work is being realized finally." answered Charlie Brown tearing up slightly thinking about all the past moments he was overshadowed and put down in his life.
"Thank you for your time Charlie Brown." thanked Double D as he cut the interview there seeing how the last question affected Charlie Brown.
"You're welcome, always a pleasure to see you Double D." replied Charlie Brown as he walked down into the dugout and back to locker room to get showered and changed.
Pitching Summary: Win (Five and zero record), 8.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K's, 1.87 ERA, 84 Pitches, 57 Strikes, 27 Balls
Batting Summary: 1 for 3, 1 double (first of season), 1 run scored
== After the Game ==
Once finished getting ready, Charlie Brown met up with the others and the guys all went out to celebrate their victory at a local bar, The Watering Hole, which had been chosen by Clay. The gang was all swarmed by adoring fans asking for autographs, sans Clay as he was only the team's beat writer. After signing more autographs then they could count, the group ordered some nachos and got a round of drinks to toast their success. While waiting for the food the guys were conversing, while Clay pulled out a black spiral notebook he grabbed from his locker before they left the complex.
"What you got there Clay?" asked Bryan as the others noticed the notebook as well.
"Nothing much just my songwriting journal." he said as he casually flipped through the book not looking up from his task.
"That's right he did mention he was an aspiring songwriter as well as a professional sportswriter." said Brandon as he recalled the conversation when Clay revealed his identity to Charlie Brown.
"What motivates you to write songs Loner?" asked Charlie Brown as the bearded man stopped scrolling and nodded at the page he was on before pulling out a pen to jot down more lyrics.
"Lots of things really, the team, my past, things I see on the daily basis, you name it I've used it as a muse at one point or another." he answered as he finished scribbling and put the pen down on the table.
"Have you had any success with your songs going to other artists?" asked Brayan as he grabbed a hot chip and took a bite from the newly arrived nachos.
"None so far, but my luck has to turn around eventually." he said with a sigh as he took a drink from his beer.
"That's the spirit man! Just got to keep plugging away until things work out." said Billy as he slapped the larger man on the back which earned him a glare that made him start to sweat.
"My bad." he said as he slid a little further out of his punching range.
"You may be right on that idea Billy, that's why I chose to have us come to this bar."
"What do you mean Loner?" asked Charlie Brown as the others too were confused and intrigued about that statement.
"This bar offers live music after 10PM and since we finished the game early, I called ahead and reserved a spot for me and some of my other session musician friends to play some of my music I've written." said Clay with a slight grin as realization dawned on the others' faces.
"That's good forethought on your part Clay." said Bryan acknowledging his ability to think ahead and plan all this out.
"Thank you, and I was wondering Charlie Brown if you'd join for the opening song." said Clay as the others again gained questioning looks.
"Why me?" asked Charlie Brown as the others knew he had a good voice sans Bryan who wasn't present for the karaoke excursion last season.
"Well, Billy told me how good of a singer you were, and this new song I just finished pertains to your experiences growing up." he explained as he handed over his notebook for Charlie Brown to look at. A quick scanning of the words revealed that he was speaking the truth and Charlie Brown could definitely get behind the meaning of the lyrics.
"That's actually really accurate Loner, you must have kept those old pencil pal letters as reference material." said Charlie Brown as he handed the notebook back.
"Guilty as charged. So you in?" asked Clay after nodding to his previous statement.
"Count me in. Which lines are mine?" he asked as Clay showed him the page again.
"The ones underlined in red are mine, yours have no underlining." replied Clay as Charlie Brown nodded and read the page to memorize the lyrics. A few moments later, Clay motioned for him that it was time. Charlie Brown took a spot behind the curtain on stage as Clay tuned a black electric guitar he had on stage already. After finishing tuning, he walked up to microphone stand and raised it up to his mouth level. Once adjusted he spoke into it and tested the audio level which came back with no feedback and he nodded before putting the guitar down and turning back to the microphone and spoke into it.
"Is everyone having a good time tonight?" he asked as the crowd applauded and lightly cheered as he scanned the room.
"That's great to hear. Welcome to 'The Watering Hole', I'm Clay "Loner" Levandowski and I'm the man behind the music you'll hear this evening and you can find my baseball column in the Sports section of the Cincinnati Enquirer® daily!" he introduced himself as he again took in the cheers of the crowd and waited for them to quiet down before continuing.
"Tonight I have a very special guest joining me on stage tonight. He's a man that I've known for many years and one of my best friends I've ever had." he paused as the crowd grew quiet in anticipation.
"He's also the reigning National League CY Young award winner and just won the game for the Reds earlier today! Welcome to the stage Mr. Charlie Brown!" exclaimed Clay as the crowd cheered and applauded as Charlie Brown jogged on stage and joined him.
"Thank you everybody, just hope to keep doing a good job and bring us to the playoffs!" he paused as the crowd cheered again.
"Let's rock this house! You ready Loner?!" asked Charlie Brown as he turned to his left and stared in shock at Loner. He'd taken off his shirt to expose his muscular chest, but what shocked Charlie Brown are the scars and tattoos that covered him. Loner had a tattoo of barbed wire that wrapped entirely around his right bicep, another tattoo of a black wolf with glowing red eyes stalking its prey down his entire left arm, and another tattoo of a snarling grey wolf's head dead center of his chest. Just above that tattoo was a deep scar that ran ten inches horizontally across the upper portion of his chest that also ran over where his heart was. He had many other smaller scars scattered around his chest, and a quick peek at his back showed others that littered the entirety of that as well.
'That explains the long sleeved shirt. Wonder why he hides them from us?' thought Charlie Brown as Loner didn't notice his wandering eyes and answered his question.
"Absolutely Charlie Brown, this first song is called 'Hurricane'!" said Loner as he started to strum his guitar along with the other band members which included a bass player, a second guitar player, and a drummer. (Song is "Hurricane" by I Prevail; all credit goes to them for writing it. Charlie Brown's lyrics are normal text, Clay's is bolded and both of them singing is bolded and underlined.)
Tell me I was never good enough
Remind me of the demons that I've been running from
Tell me who the hell you thought I was
Or just blame it on the person, the person I've become
Lately, I don't give a fuck
Cuz I can't be myself when I'm with anyone
Maybe, I'm already gone
I'll never be the same
It hit me like a hurricane
It hit me like a tidal wave
And I don't know why I drown my mind in everything they say
It hit me like a hurricane
It hit me like a tidal wave
And I don't know why I drown my mind, it got the best of me
Tell me I've been lost inside my mind
(I reach out but it's pullin me under) (whispered)
Remind me I've been searching for something I won't find
Tell me I was never worth the time
(I reach out but it's pullin me under) (whispered)
Or just blame it on the person you think I left behind
Lately, I don't give a fuck
Cuz I can't be myself when I'm with anyone
Maybe, I'm already gone
I'll never be the same
It hit me like a hurricane
It hit me like a tidal wave
And I don't know why I drown my mind in everything they say
It hit me like a hurricane (hurricane) (echoed)
It hit me like a tidal wave (tidal wave) (echoed)
And I don't know why I drown my mind it got the best of me
*Music Build Up Starts*
With your life on the line
Ready to die for something
When you're at the divide
And you're down to nothing
Look into my eyes
Believe me that the storm is coming DOWN!
*Music Drops as Clay's scream lasts for five seconds*
Believe me that the storm is coming
Down, down, down
Believe me that the storm is coming down
It hit me like a hurricane
It hit me like a tidal wave
And I don't know why I drown my mind in everything they say
It hit me like a hurricane (hurricane) (echoed)
It hit me like a tidal wave (hurricane) (echoed)
And I don't know why I drown my mind, it got the best of me
It's coming down, down
Believe me that the storm is coming DOWN! (Extended scream for five seconds)
*Music stops*
Lately, I don't give a fuck
Cuz I can't be myself when I'm with anyone
Maybe, I'm already gone
As Charlie Brown finished singing, the crowd burst into raucous applause and cheers as his friends were on their feet as well. He bowed to the crowd and turned to Loner before high-fiving him and Charlie Brown then raised his right arm with his left hand.
"Give it up for Loner, without him this wouldn't be possible!" said Charlie Brown as Loner bowed to the crowd as well and thanked him with a nod. Charlie Brown then left the stage as Loner tuned his guitar again.
"Wow! That was amazing Charlie Brown, I didn't know you had such a good voice." said Bryan as he raised his beer to him before taking a swig from it.
"Thank you man, sucks you weren't here for the first excursion the others were."
"Yeah they mentioned it, but I wanted to see it for myself because I was skeptical. You guys definitely have voices that complement each other." replied Bryan referencing Charlie Brown's lighter and controlled tone while Clay's was darker and full of raw screaming power.
"Yeah maybe I can have a career in this once baseball is over, who knows?" said Charlie Brown as he shrugged his shoulders as their attention went back to the stage as Loner started his second song.
The performance went for another hour as Loner played some more of his creations and the crowd absolutely loved them. There was even video footage captured of the whole performance which quickly went viral and ended up on ESPN in the morning…..wait what?!
That was Charlie Brown's thoughts as he turned on the early edition of the aforementioned sports show as he watched the highlights from last night's game. The scroll bar on the side of the screen showed the headline 'Rock Star Potential?' as Charlie Brown could only guess what that was about.
'O brother I wonder how this story is going to be portrayed?'
AN: And we're going to end on a cliffhanger right there. Will there be backlash for Charlie Brown's performance with Loner? Tune in next time to find out. But once again guys I can't say thank you enough for coming back and reading this story especially since it's now at twenty-five chapters. It's really inspiring for me to see such traffic that this story gets, but please do leave a favorite, a follow or even just a review and let me know how I can improve this. I know I'm not perfect so I welcome all criticisms and critiques with open arms. Thanks again for reading and I'll see you in the next chapter, this is 'The Nasty One' signing off!
-PRAK #TheNastyOne