Detroit Free Press

The bats finally come alive

The bats finally come alive

Justin Verlander had thrown everything he had, his fastball, his change-up, his curve, his arm, his heart, his lungs, maybe a couple of kidneys. His engine was sputtering, pushed to the brink.And it was still the sixth inning. The infield came in. The crowd inhaled. Verlander, with the score tied, had just walked the No.9 batter on four pitches to load the bases. His pitch count was far north of 100. There was only one out. Most other pitchers would be done. Out of there. You actually could hear gulping across Comerica Park. Is this it? Does the season end here?

Mitch Albom writes about running an orphanage in impoverished Port-au-Prince, Haiti, his kids, their hardships, laughs and challenges, and the life lessons he’s learned there every day.

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