I think the author just uses random sports-sounding phrases in these situations. (At least here he’s using ones appropriate for baseball, and not something like, “At the buzzer…IT’S GOOD…!!”)
Apparently, “playdowns” — as in state playoffs — are no longer really a thing in the Gil Thorp universe. The last time a Milford team won a “playdowns” game in any sport was the 2014 state champion football team. The boys basketball team hasn’t competed in the playdowns since 2014 (and hasn’t won a postseason game since 2006). The baseball team lost a first-round game in 2022 (just before the current author took over) and haven’t won a playdowns contest since 2003.
As for the girls, the hoops team last made the playdowns in 2021 and last won a postseason game in 2005. And the softball team lost in the first round in 2019, and last won a first-round game in 2004 — the only time we’ve ever seen them win a postseason game! (Also, Mimi apparently led the volleyball team to a state title in 2002, but they never showed any games.)
Sadly.