欢乐美语:Take Me Out to the Ball Game 棒赛记趣

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., Robbie Stewart and his friend Alexandra Pappas are watching a baseball game on television. Robbie discovers that Alexandra knows very little about baseball. So he explains the game to her. But Grandpa Stewart has a better idea. He decides to take her to her first baseball game.
ACT I
Announcer: [He speaks on TV.] Struck him out, and that’s three outs for Boston. So at the end of the first inning(一局), It’s Boston two and New York nothing. We’ll be back after these messages.
Commercial: I’ll bet I can make you really hungry…
Robbie: So did you understand that, Alexandra?
Alexandra: I don’t understand everything. Tell me again. And make it simple.
Robbie: OK. In baseball, one team pitches the ball. That means they throw the ball. And the other team tries to hit the ball with that wooden stick. It’s called a bat.
Alexandra: Let me see now. The man with the bat is called the batter². (击球手) And the man with the ball is the pitcher³.(投球手)
Robbie: Great! What happens next?
Alexandra: The pitcher throws the ball. The batter hits it, and sometimes he runs around the baseball field.
Robbie: Right! But he can stop on any base. There’s first base, second base, third base…
Alexandra: And home. That’s the starting base.
Robbie: Right! So he wants to move all the way around the field, touching⁴ all four bases…
Alexandra: Because that way he scores a point!
Robbie: [He laughs. ] Not a point, a run. We call a point a run in baseball.
Announcer: Batting for New York now is number 34, Billy Gonzales. The pitch. He swings, and he drives the ball to left field. It’s a hit! He’ll get to second base on that hit.
Robbie: Hey, did you see that? What a hit!
Alexandra: This is exciting.
Robbie: OK. Next lesson.
Alexandra: Wait a minute Robbie. I’m just beginning to learn this game. And besides, I’m starving.
Robbie: Me too. We could order some pizza from the pizza place.
Alexandra: That sounds great. You know I love pizza.
Robbie: All right. Hand me the phone. I’ll call.
Grandpa: [He enters.] Hi, there. How’s the game?
Robbie: Oh, hi, Grandpa. It’s a good game. But Boston’s winning two to nothing.
Grandpa: Alexandra, do you like baseball?
Alexandra: I do. But I’m just starting to learn about it.
Robbie: Grandpa, this is Alexandra’s first game.
Grandpa: But this is just television. The best way to learn the game is to go to one. I know that Boston is playing in New York next week.
Robbie: Yeah. That’s right.
Grandpa: Robbie, It’s time for you and me to go to a game again. And, Alexandra, you can be our guest.
Alexandra: Thank you. I would love to go.
Grandpa: Good. I’ll call and get some tickets.
Robbie: But first I’ll call the pizza parlor⁵.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Alexandra Pappas goes to her first baseball game as the guest of Robbie and Grandpa Stewart. They are helping⁶ her to learn some of the rules of the game. Robbie shows Alexandra his baseball glove. He always brings the glove, waiting for the day when a baseball will fly toward his seat. And this is the great day. A batter hits a ball very close to Robbie’s seat. Too bad for Robbie—someone else is wearing his glove.
ACT II
Robbie: OK, Alexandra. It’s the seventh inning.
Alexandra: And an inning is a chance for each baseball team to hit the ball and score runs.
Robbie: Right. So it’s the seventh inning. How many innings are left in the game?
Alexandra: Well, there are nine innings. So there’s the seventh, the eighth, and the ninth.
Grandpa: Good girl! Good girl!
Alexandra: Thank you, Mr. Stewart. I am learning.
Grandpa: Watch the pitcher Purcell. Watch him throw the ball. He’s got a great arm!
Vendor⁷: Cold sodas⁸! Cold beer! Get them right here!
Grandpa: Keep your eyes open, kids. I’m looking for the man with the hot dogs and peanuts.
Robbie: Getting hungry, Grandpa?
Grandpa: I want to buy Alexandra a hot dog and a bag of peanuts.
Alexandra: That sounds good.
Grandpa: You always eat hot dogs and peanuts at a baseball game. Now watch the batter. This guy can really hit the ball.
Alexandra: Who is it?
Grandpa: It’s Gonzales. Number 34.
Robbie: Yeah, he’s 34. Baseball players always have a number. You can see it on the back of their shirts.
Alexandra: Oh, he missed the ball.
Robbie: But usually he hits it far. C’mon! C’mon! Hit it!
Grandpa: Did you bring your baseball glove, Robbie?
Robbie: I never go to a baseball game without it. It’s right here, Grandpa.
Grandpa: Why aren’t you wearing it?
Robbie: The ball never comes to me.
Alexandra: Put it on. Maybe today is the day.
Robbie: I really shouldn’t bring it anymore. It never happens. The balls never come toward me. The chance of catching⁹ one is so small. I’m always hopeful I guess.
Grandpa: Maybe today is the day.
Alexandra: That glove doesn’t look very comfortable.
Robbie: But you need it to catch a baseball. Without it, it hurts.
Alexandra: Can I try the glove on?
Robbie: Sure. Here.
Alexandra: Mmm. The leather is very soft.
Robbie: Do this. Punch your other hand in the palm of the glove. Hard! See? It doesn’t hurt.
Grandpa: Here comes a ball. Watch out! Watch out!
Alexandra: Ohhhhhh.
Robbie: Alexandra, are you all right?
Alexandra: Yes, Robbie. I’m all right. But look! I caught the ball!
Robbie: You caught the ball! I don’t believe it!
[They all laugh.]

1 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

3 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

4 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

5 parlor   

n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅

参考例句：

• She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
• Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 vendor   

n.卖主；小贩

参考例句：

• She looked at the vendor who cheated her the other day with distaste.她厌恶地望着那个前几天曾经欺骗过她的小贩。
• He must inform the vendor immediately.他必须立即通知卖方。

8 sodas   

n.苏打( soda的名词复数 )；碱；苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• There are plenty of sodas in the refrigerator. 冰箱里有很多碳酸饮料。 来自辞典例句
• Two whisky and sodas, please. 请来两杯威士忌苏打。 来自辞典例句

9 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。