Bottom of the Ninth

What Every Successful Slugger Needs to Know.

WIN THE BIG GAME OR GO DOWN SWINGING.

Think you can cut it in the majors, slugger? Well, you're about to learn the true meaning of pressure. Two outs, bottom of the ninth and the only thing between you and the fence is Rubber-Arm Rogers, the greatest pitcher ever to rule the mound. Knock it out of the park and your baseball card will be worth millions. Strike out and you can look forward to an unpromising career in the pony league.

A SURE-FIRE WAY TO GET TO FIRST BASE.

Remove plastic cover on game screen before stepping up to the plate. Push the ON/START Switch to display the screen. Next, push the PLAYER/BATTING Button to select 1 or 2 player mode. With 2 players, the VISITOR will bat first, followed by the HOME team. Next, push the LEVEL/TIME Switch to select one of three levels of difficulty (Little League, Farm League, The Majors). Finally, push the ON/START Switch once more to begin the game.

The game is a 9-inning, 3 outs per side, test of talent. The team to score the most runs wins.

BATTER UP, BUTCH.

When the batter steps up to the plate, his number in the line-up (1-9) will flash on the screen. Batters get one swing per ball and just as in the majors, timing is everything. Swing the bat by pressing the PLAYER/BATTING Button. A hefty swing will belt the ball into Left, Right or Center Field. The result of the hit ball will be displayed on the screen as HOME RUN, HIT, FOUL, OUT, DOUBLE PLAY or ERROR.

If you get a hit, your man will appear on the diamond next to the pitcher and run the base paths automatically after the next ball is stroked into the field. In the two player mode, after three outs, teams exchange batting positions. Press the ON/START Switch to resume play. Inning count is displayed at this time.

THE OUTFIELD.

The computer always controls the men in the field, you only control the batter. A badly-timed or wimpy swing will dink the ball right into an opponent's mitt for an easy out.

HOW TO READ THE PITCHER.

To see what the last pitch thrown was, batters should check the bottom of the screen after the pitch is hurled. FAST means that a searing fastball just whizzed past your head. CHUP indicates a slower change-up pitch. The old curveball is symbolized by CURV, and KNUC means that a dizzying knuckle ball just found its target.

If you think you're really good, you can adjust your cursor to try and get a more solid hit. Right after the pitcher releases the ball, use the COACHING CONTROL Button to move the cursor to where you think the ball will go. (There are nine different positions.) If you are on target, the ball will appear inside the cursor. Otherwise, the actual position will be shown on the screen after the batter swings.

THE TIME BUTTON.

You can pause the game at any time as long as you press the LEVEL/TIME Switch before the pitcher throws the ball. To re-start the game, press the LEVEL/TIME Switch once more.

To switch a right-handed batter or pitcher to a left-handed one, press the LEVEL/TIME Switch once to pause the game. Press the COACHING CONTROL Button Left or Right to choose a left or right-handed batter. Press the COACHING CONTROL Button Up then left or right to select a right or left-handed pitcher. Press the LEVEL/TIME Switch again to re-start the game. The game turns itself off if not in use for a period of 60 seconds.

NOTE: After replacing the batters, press the All Clear key to clear the screen, with a ball-point pen.