The training sessions are grueling. Sisko's team is plagued by injuries and inexperience. When one such injury sidelines O'Brien, Sisko makes him a coach, then pulls some strings to enlist his traveling girlfriend Kasidy Yates — who knows how to play — as a replacement. Unfortunately, Sisko has neither the time nor the patience to train his weaker players, and in a fit of frustration, he throws a well-meaning but inept Rom off the team.

Rom's abrupt dismissal nearly causes Sisko's squad to quit in protest, but Rom insists they continue on without him. Privately, Sisko confides in Kasidy the real reason why he's taking Solok's challenge so seriously. He recounts how Solok once humiliated him publicly when they were both in Starfleet Academy. Ever since, Solok has always gloated about Vulcan superiority in all things, and now Sisko can't bear the thought of Solok beating him at his own game.

Game day arrives. The teams gather in the holosuite. The first Vulcan who steps up to bat slams a home run — and the game goes downhill from there. By the top of the fifth inning, Sisko's team is losing to Solok's, 7-0. Just when things couldn't get any worse, Sisko gets thrown out by Odo, who's umpiring the game.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Rom's son Nog manages to make it to third base. The crew is down 10-0 and they'd desperately like to score a run. Realizing that Rom's feelings are more important than winning, Sisko arranges to put the Ferengi into the game. Rom accidentally hits a perfect bunt, which brings Nog home and unleashes a joyous celebration — so joyous it stops the game and disturbs Solok. Later, celebrating at Quark's, Sisko and his ebullient crew toast the triumph of team spirit over Vulcan "superiority."