in the ballpark

“In the sense of getting ahead of hitters, and keeping them in the ballpark.”

In UCLA’s late April series against Penn State — in which the Bruins swept the Nittany Lions — Cholowsky socked a home run in each game, none of which ever threatened to stay in the ballpark.

Philadelphia’s starter, burgeoning 27-year-old left-hander Jesús Luzardo, produced one of his best career starts, blanking the Dodgers over seven scoreless innings on two hits, two walks, eight strikeouts — and some help from a howling wind blowing in from center, which kept seemingly surefire home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández in the ballpark.

Previous eight-week seasons have cost in the ballpark of $350, depending on how early or late one signed up, as discounts are given to those who commit promptly as well as to returning singers.

Occasionally the stars align and an actor perceived as due also wins for giving the year’s best performance — or at least one that’s in the ballpark.