ARLINGTON, Texas — The ball hurdled off Bobby Witt Jr.’s bat toward the deep right-center-field gap at Globe Life Field as the 35,000 or so remaining fans held their breath. A home run would tie Teoscar Hernández’s final-round total of 14 and give the Royals shortstop and hometown kid a chance to take the lead. An out would mean victory for the big-grinning Dodgers outfielder.
Witt had just made a late charge, ripping a string of homers in the final to claw his way back into the mix. For the first time since about when Texas Ranger Adolis García was eliminated as the third contestant, the crowd was interested again.