bottom of the ninth

Bottom, from the home team's location below visitors on the scoreboard; ninth from the number of innings in a baseball game.

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bottom of the ninth

1. (baseball) The second part of the ninth and final inning; the end of the game.

   Hitting a home run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth let the home team finish ahead of the visitors.

2. (idiomatic) By extension, any last chance or final opportunity.

• Wikipedia article on baseball.
• Wikipedia article on innings.