"Grey's Anatomy" Thursdays on ABC (Photo courtesy of ABC)

The seventh episode kicked off at the baseball diamond where Cristina and Meredith laid in the outfield and were introduced to Sloane’s new girlfriend, Julia (much to Lexie’s disappointment).

The cases at Seattle Grace were far less depressing than usual but just as morbid as each patient actually survived their surgeries.  

Cali found herself with a man whose hand more so resembled hamburger meat after an accident. However she refuses to let his crushed bones crush his talent as wood carver and manages to salvage the hand.

Meanwhile a teenager from San Francisco arrives at Seattle Grace with a non-cancerous tumor on her hypothalamus that causes chronic seizures. Derek, who wants to remove the entire tumor, struggles to convince the patient’s mother to let him perform a riskier and more dangerous surgery. He refuses to consider a safer alternative but when it comes time to practice for the surgery, he struggles to not puncture the brain.

Speaking of alternative, Hunt decided to help him prepare for the surgery…and possibly practice for the upcoming game by having him hit softballs. Turns out Lexie used to be a pitcher and helped him fix the problem.

In the operating room where being off by a millimeter is simply not an option, Derek was successful in removing the entire tumor. But not every surgeon at Seattle Grace got the chance to use their scalpel for a groundbreaking surgery and such was the case for Cristina, who was assigned a simple procedure she felt a first year intern could perform. But the day ended on a high note when Teddy told her she had finally graduated from working on her service after showing patience with Kepner in the operating room. Her graduation gift? A car? No. Money? Better (or at least in Cristina’s eyes). She was told to create a bucket list of any surgery she ever wanted to perform in her wildest dreams and Teddy would try to fulfill her wishes. 

In another part of the hospital, Meredith, who is now working on the OBGYN service, looked to her mother’s old journals to help her solve a problem with Bailey’s research trial… by the way Bailey banned her from participating in the trial and has since showed major hostility. So imagine her surprise when she finds Meredith in the lab? Needless to say she was none too pleased. 

Missing from the action at Seattle Grace in this week’s episode was Karev, who was busy trying to convince a judge that Zola should be given back Derek and Meredith, a rare act of kindness from the typical bad boy, or “evil spawn” as he was called in earlier seasons. 

And then it was time to play ball…or at least try to as they were pummeled by Seattle Presbyterian, proving that the Seattle Grace doctors should probably stick to their day jobs.  True to form, Cristina and Meredith hung out in the outfield, drinking from a flask. The tension between Bailey and Meredith suddenly burst, as the supposed teammates started arguing with each other. Showing his former chief glory, Webber stepped in and scolded them both.

Then it was Lexie’s turn to step up to the plate. And what does the former player do? She hits Sloane’s new girlfriend in the chest of course. Her jealousy obviously could not be contained and Avery took notice.

The episode ended on a positive note as the doctors sit on the bleachers doing what else? Drinking. Meredith and Derek find out they have a hearing and are possibly one step closer to getting Zola back.

Tune in to watch "Grey’s Anatomy" every Thursday at 9 p.m. on ABC. 

Reach reporter Elizabeth Pereira here.