Chapter 182 – Episode 180. A Gift to Etrin! (2)

[The pitcher the AT Thunders selected as the starting pitcher for the first game of the Children’s Day series is Yoon Jang. It can be said that he is a native ace of AT in name and reality, who pitched in 5 games during the month of April and harvested 3 wins. Will we be able to give the child fans the gift of victory today?]

[Isn’t that how Jang Yoon completely met water while transferring to AT Thunders as a free agent? He used to be a pitcher with a lot of home runs while using literature, but he moved to Jamsil and that anxiety was almost gone. Now he it can be considered as the native ace of AT.]

[That’s right. The help of these starting pitchers was also significant for the AT Thunders to come up from the bottom.]

[You’re right. AT’s rise is due not only to the league’s top line, but also to the fact that the starting pitchers are doing their part well. Transferred Jang Yoon and third-year Bellingham are making a strong one-two punch, and Park Joon-hyung is also showing off his efforts his, right? In addition, the starting lineup is quite stable as even the 5th starter Kim Chan-young showed compliance. Although Jansson is showing an uneasy appearance, the starting mound became solid as he fired a flare for resurrection with 5 scoreless innings in the NV match, the first game he went to the 2nd team.]

[The problem is that the bullpen is still unstable….]

[You’re right. Even the finishing pitcher, Park Jin-hyeok, shows a little uneasiness and the back door is uneasy. That’s why it is necessary for Jang Yoon to extend the innings as long as possible today.]

There were several reasons why Jang Yoon was selected as the starting pitcher for Children’s Day, beating out mercenary pitchers despite being the first year he had transferred.

And the biggest reason among them is the aggressive pitching tempo.

Jang Yoon, who focused on corner work as much as possible to avoid hitting a home run when the ballpark used Munhak as his home game, but after moving to Jamsil this season, Jang Yoon succeeded in completely changing his pitching style. Jang Yoon’s pitching tempo, which spreads aggressive balls with his wide jamsil on his back, was excellent in increasing the concentration of fielders.

“Now! Let’s go as usual today!”

Veteran catcher Jung Yun-cheol shouted to the ground in a loud voice as usual before the opponent’s attack started. At that voice, all AT infielders turn into focused eyes. At the beginning of the first inning, Ji Maeng-ho’s home run was supported by two runs, but the players’ eyes were shining because of the importance of the Children’s Day game.

Hancheol’s leading hitter was Kim Dongjin. He was an outfielder with quick feet who won Rookie of the Year and Stealing Player last year. If Dong-jin Kim went on base, Han-cheol’s batting line had to deal with the national team batting line consisting of Kim Jeong-hyeon, Joo Seung-cheol, and Lee Yong-gi, and the mercenary batter Esteban, the fifth hitter , so AT’s position had to block Kim Dong-jin’s on-base unconditionally.

‘The first pitch is an outside fastball.’

‘OK.’

AT’s battery took a breath after exchanging signs. And Jang Yoon’s first pitch was thrown.

“Strike!”

Jang Yoon’s first pitch hit the outer border line accurately, signaling a pleasant start.

“Good ball!”

First ball strike. Jang Yoon’s mouth moved slightly at the pleasant start.

[As expected, he entered boldly from the beginning.]

[There are usually many players who can’t show their skills in such a big game, but Jang Yoon is a veteran pitcher who has experienced two championships during his UG days, so he doesn’t look nervous at all.]

After announcing such a good start, Jang Yoon threw Kim Dong-jin out with three balls with aggressive and fast pitching.

“Nice, good start!”

Jang Yoon’s expression slightly brightened as he easily blocked Kim Dong-jin, but Han-cheol Grizzlies’ batting line was just the beginning.

[Now, Kim Jung-Hyun comes to bat. His season batting average was 0.364. He has five home runs there.]

[Kim Jung-Hyun is a player with a wide range of defense, a strong shoulder, the ability to run 20 times, and the power to hit 20 home runs in Jamsil, right? He’s even signed up for 20-20 once. Although he is a player with many tools, his most appreciated ability his is his sophisticated hitting ability. He’s always been in the top 10 hitting since he started full-time.]

After Joo Seung-cheol’s debut, there was a feeling that he was slightly buried by Joo Seung-cheol, but even before Joo Seung-cheol’s debut, the Hotajun tribe that represented Han-cheol was Kim Jeong-hyun.

[First ball is a foul!]

[He also kicks the second ball.]

[This ball is far away! Outside the line. Kim Jung-hyun, who produces sharp foul balls!]

[Kim Jung-hyun’s hitting feeling is quite good, right? I’m kicking all the balls of Jangyun. Is the foul ball getting closer and closer to the ground? Player Jang Yoon should be careful.]

‘As expected, he wins quickly as analyzed. He probably doesn’t want to be seen chewing on Children’s Day.’

Pitching at a fast tempo had the advantage of increasing the concentration of the fielders, but had the disadvantage that it was easy for opponent hitters to enter the game aiming for a shot. And Han Cheol’s players weren’t the ones to miss that shortcoming.

Ta-evil!

[Kim Jung-hyun hits, falls behind right fielder. Woo Kwan-hyung, quickly send it! Second baseman Ji Maeng-ho catches it! Ji Maeng-ho throws to second base! Kim Jung-hyun stops at first base.]

‘Fuck, why is the second baseman all the way out there?’

Seeing Ji Maeng-ho go out to the outfield and relay play, Kim Jung-hyun had no choice but to return to first base in a hurry. AT’s defensive strategy of relaying play from a distance as much as possible to cover the weakness of right fielder Woo Kwan-hyeong, who has a weak shoulder, was already famous among the clubs, so Kim did not overdo it.

At the beginning of the season, it was a natural choice because there were many players who were out from second base due to such a throw, but Kim Jung-hyun did not regret it at all. Right away, because the next player to come in was Joo Seung-chul.

‘Seungcheol-ah, I believe in you.’

Joo Seung-cheol, the son of Korean baseball hero Joo Hyung-jin, and a reliable junior with a record of 30-30 for two consecutive years since his debut season. After returning from his injury, he announced his perfect comeback, recording a batting average of close to .500 for a week.

[Jamsil is excited when Joo Seung-cheol appears at bat.]

[Joo Seung-cheol, it’s been 3 years since his debut, but he’s a star player representing KBA, right? He Awarded the Golden Glove for achieving the 30-30 club for two consecutive years. He is a player who can turn the tide of the game at any time.]

[After returning from injury, what kind of image will Joo Seung-cheol show in the first Jamsil series…. Ugh! Hit from the first pitch! This hitting ball! Behind center fielder!]

And Joo Seung-chul, befitting his reputation His, raised Jang Yoon’s first pitch without delay. The batted ball far exceeded the height of center fielder Kim Joo-yeop. Joo Seung-chul’s ball hits the fence and bounces off.

[Ah! Kim Joo-yeop! Fumble the ball. Kim Jung-hyun, who was the runner on first base, went home! Coming home! Han-Cheol Grizzlies make up for 1 point! The solution was Joo Seung-cheol!]

With Kim Joo-yeop’s fumble, Kim Jung-hyeon, who was the runner on first base, came home easily. This time, Maeng-Ho Ji, who ran to the outfield with his quick feet, made a lightning-fast throw to third base to block the triple, but Han-Cheol’s fans were already singing Joo Seung-Chul’s cheering song at the timely hit that immediately exploded in pursuit.

“Hey, isn’t it hard to come back from there?”

“It is difficult.”

When Ji Maeng-ho returned to second base, Joo Seung-chul, with a flushed expression, struck a timely hit and spoke to Ji Maeng-ho.

“Release your expression, bastard. Whoever sees it will know that they are losing.”

Joo Seung-cheol’s provocation. Although he was kicked by one point, his words contained the confidence that he could turn the tables at any time.

“What are you talking about? Did I win?”

And Ji Maeng-ho replied to such a provocation with a rather unlucky smile.

“Yes?”

“Hyung hit a double, I hit a home run. Of course I didn’t win, right?”

It was Joo Seung-cheol who first provoked Ji Maeng-ho, the core of the AT lineup, but it was Joo Seung-cheol who was scratched by Ji Maeng-ho’s fact attack.

“Okay, let’s go all the way today.”

Ji Maeng-ho and Joo Seung-cheol’s eyes collided in the air, but the battle of nerves between the two players that created the RBI did not last long.

The player who ended the war of nerves was Han Cheol’s fourth hitter, Lee Yong-gi. Lee Yong-gi also came out aiming for Jang Yoon’s aggressive tendencies, and showed technical blows from the first pitch.

Fuck!

[Lee Yong-gi’s 1 RBI hit at the right time! Send the batted ball to the side of right field with a technical push! Second base runner, Joo Seung-chul, home! Home! Come in! Lee Yong-gi instructed to stop at 1st base!]

[It was a hit, but it was the best judgment from AT’s point of view. The home judged that it was already late and the action of not throwing prevented the batter runner from advancing in the scoring zone.]

[Now the score is 2:2! Tie! Both teams show their performance for the Children’s Day series! The match is at the starting point!]

With the balance at 2:2, the first inning of both teams ended, and the game became more intense.

[Ji Maeng-ho’s 1 RBI, timely hit! Joo-Yeop Kim, who was a runner on second base, is called home! Now the score is 3:2! At the top of the 3rd inning, AT Thunders are ahead again!]

[Joo Seung-cheol fires back! Joo Seung-chul’s solo home run at the end of the third inning! Now the score is tied 3:3 again! Hancheol Grizzlies, AT’s lead is not allowed even once!]

In an intense situation worthy of a Children’s Day game, where AT leads, Hancheol follows. And at the center were Ji Maeng-ho and Joo Seung-chul, the hottest hitters of both teams.

In this way, a tie like thin ice was maintained in the performance of the two players, and it was the basic skills that eventually broke the tension.

[Ah! This batted ball cannot be double-played!]

[Yoon Seong-tae’s throw was slightly off, right? The infielders were in a hurry because the batter runner was Kim Dong-jin, the king of stolen bases last year. Second baseman Ji Maeng-ho hurriedly threw a strong throw, but it went up and failed to put the batter runner out. Fortunately, a catastrophe was avoided as veteran first baseman Choi Jin-cheol caught the throw.]

[Choi Jin-cheol changed his position from 3rd base to 1st base, but still shows solid defense.]

[Even in the major leagues, when he played first base, he was a player who showed a stable catch.]

[However, Jangyoon ends here. Jang Yoon showed quality starting pitching, allowing 3 runs in 6 2/3 innings. Fans applaud. The second pitcher for the AT Thunders is Pil Seung-jo, Han Sang-hyun. He is 1 win, 3 losses and 3 holds with a 3.23 ERA.]

*

“Ha, fuck. Missita. I should have been a little more calm.”

In a situation where the inning could have ended with a double play, Yoon Seong-tae came closer while Han Sang-hyun, who was newly on the mound, was practicing pitching, as if he was worried about not throwing the ball properly.

“Brother.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t act like a steamed-up. Are you dying like a kid because you made one mistake?”

“… Does it seem like a lot of steam?”

“The shortstop could make a mistake.”

I was also a shortstop until middle school, so I could understand Yoon Seong-tae’s heart His. Mistakes by shortstops are normal in baseball. Legendary defenseman Argie Smith also recorded double-digit errors as a shortstop. There was no expectation that the shortstop would not make a mistake in the first place.

“I should have thrown more accurately.”

And there is nothing to blame for Yoon Seong-tae. If I had come to my senses, I could have finished the inning. It was because Kim Dong-jin’s speed was faster than expected, and the strength was in his shoulders.

“A child. I should have done better.”

Yoon Seong-tae’s expression was dripping with regret and regret. Are you motivated by the big game?

“Brother. Don’t act like a steamed-up. If you score, I will earn it again.”

Well, I understand that too. In a game like this, even the slightest mistake will definitely take away the atmosphere. Everyone knew that Hancheol wasn’t a team that was going to suck like a volcano, and that this kind of atmosphere was not to be missed, so that kind of reaction was natural.

… Actually, I said it strongly to Yoon Seong-tae, but I was also a little anxious. And that anxiety soon became a reality.

“Base on Balls!”

Batter 2, Kim Jung-hyun walked on base

Ta-evil!

– Wow!

– Joo Seung-cheol! Seungcheol Joo! Seungcheol Joo!

Batter 3 Joo Seung-cheol did not miss the opportunity. He had a large three-run over the left wall.

“Hey, did I win now? I am a multi-home run today.”

Joo Seung-chul, who was running around second base, scratched my temper by throwing a word while tapping the logo on the uniform.

‘Okay, let’s go all the way. Who will laugh at the end?’