Chapter 283 – Episode 281. Asian Games Finals. (2)

“Hey! Come and see as much as you can, because Taiwanese kids are nothing without Chen Jianhao anyway.”

“… “I’ll take care of it.”

“Huh? Hey? Hey! Ji Maengho! … Ah, that bastard…”

I ignored the hitting coach’s call and walked into the waiting box. See as many balls as possible? That can’t be possible. Standing at bat to increase the number of pitches was tantamount to declaring defeat.

‘Is it okay not to listen to the coach?’

‘It’s the last game anyway. And since when did Mr. Rossby care about that?’

‘Hehe, that’s right.’

‘Then let’s go properly this time.’

The reason for the failure in the first at-bat was giving up the strike count too quickly. I gave up two strikes too quickly, so I had no choice but to drag the game down.

In addition, not knowing where the referee’s strike zone was set was also the reason for giving up two strikes. The umpire’s style is to be lenient on right-handed batters’ outside balls. If you pay attention to that fact, the count won’t be delayed as early as before.

‘After watching until one lap was completed, the kid’s control today seems to be working quite well. I’m concentrating because it’s the finals. So, try to win at an early stage.’

While planning to attack Chen Jianhao, Joo Seung-cheol saw 7 balls and was eventually called out.

‘Sseu-eup, as expected, he continues to play on the outside against right-handed hitters.’

I went to bat while reflecting on the trajectory of the guy I saw in my first at bat. Maybe it’s because he got two outs, but I can see the guy’s more relaxed expression.

‘The first pitch is a slider.’

‘Okay.’

Left-handed pitchers usually do not throw sliders to right-handed batters. A left-handed pitcher’s slider curves toward the right-handed batter’s body and has the characteristic of getting closer to the batter’s body, making it a pitch that can easily result in a big hit.

However, Chen Jianhao was a pitcher who threw such a slider backdoor. He has a backdoor slider that flies to the outside and lands in the outside strike zone. The ball that was easy to clear but difficult to hit was his backdoor slider.

‘Maybe they’ll throw it like that this time too?’

It wouldn’t be easy to throw a ball like that if you didn’t have the confidence, but he’s a major-leaguer. There was definitely a high possibility of targeting the farthest side of the strike zone.

‘It’s on the outside, so just push it a little bit… ‘It’s coming.’

Soon the pitcher did a windup. And the first pitch is thrown. As expected, he started flying from the outside.

Perfect!

I felt the tip of the bat catch and the batted ball curved to the right. A batted ball heading toward the first base side of the stands.

‘Sweet, the timing is not right.’

After hitting the foul, I looked at the pitcher’s expression and saw that he still had a confident expression that I didn’t like.

‘Look at the expression. I want to crush it.’

‘Don’t fool around and focus on the game.’

‘Yes.’

‘It’s a slider this time too.’

‘Again?’

‘Yes.’

Well, honestly, I felt burdened if the slider kept flying like this. Because the referee was lenient on the outside.

If the referee’s tendency was not to be generous to the outside, he would have just missed the ball, but since his style was to be generous to the outside, he had no choice but to touch this ball. In addition, I hesitated because I thought I wouldn’t get a good ball even if I hit it.

‘Is this because it’s a major league game?’

To be honest, before the game, I ignored him because he was a novice major-leaguer, but seeing him understand the umpire’s tendencies and attack him so persistently made me think that he was a major-leaguer.

‘I was a little late earlier, and it curved to the right, so this time I’m a little faster… !’

When I tried to swing the bat again, it felt like it was slightly farther than before. As soon as I felt that trajectory, I grabbed the bat that was about to go out with my wrist.

“… Ball!”

And the ball is declared.

“So who wants to throw the same ball twice in a row?”

“… ! … !”

The catcher and I spoke different languages, but as fellow baseball players, I felt like I could understand what he was saying.

“[Yes, yes. Are you saying that you pulled out a little more than before because you were afraid of getting hit? Okay, dude.]”

“[What are you saying?]”

‘It’s a fastball.’

‘Okay.’

Two sliders and a fastball. He also knew that his pitch count was increasing, so he probably wanted to see the game quickly, right? If you’re aiming for it, now is the time!

After concentrating on his every move, I swung the bat the moment his ball came into range.

Ta – Aak!

The taste you can feel. I just threw the bat. As I felt, the batted ball was flying toward the left wall, and I couldn’t hold back the pleasure and ended up screaming.

“Heavy rain!”

So, when I was heading to first base with my fist raised,

“Hey! What are you doing! Run!”

The first base coach’s shout was heard. Hearing that voice, I reflexively looked toward the outfield and saw the batted ball hit the fence and fall into the left fielder’s glove.

“Fuck!”

I just picked up the pace, stepped on the first base, and ran toward second base.

‘Mr. Rossby! The ball?!’

‘I threw it. Shortstop! Sliding on second base!’

‘Okay.’

The second baseman was seen preparing to slide and taking a preparatory motion to catch the ball thrown by the shortstop.

‘Fuck, didn’t you just skip it?’

After a moment of regret, I slid toward second base, and as soon as I felt my feet, my glove grazed my thigh.

“Safe!”

And then the second base umpire’s declaration of three leaves is heard.

“Wow, I almost got fucked.”

Suddenly, my speed increased, and my heart started pounding rapidly. As I was lying down and catching my breath, the coach came over and held my hand.

“It was dangerous. “You know, right?”

“I see. I thought it would pass. Coach. “Wasn’t it a passing over?”

“That’s right. “Can’t you get over this?”

“Under…”

There was definitely a heavy feeling when I hit it, but I thought I would get over it with this kind of timing…

‘I was hit slightly downwards.’

‘Really?’

Tsk, when I was analyzing his power yesterday, he said he had a strong fastball for an Asian, so I guess he definitely had a good pitch.

‘If it had been KBA, it would have passed even in Jamsil.’

I should have guessed it more accurately, but I felt regret.

“Now, gloves.”

“I’ll run right away. “I’m buying 2 anyway.”

“Do whatever you want. “You are a green light anyway.”

After receiving permission from the coach, he shook the dirt off his uniform and waited for the next batter, Lee Yong-gi, to come to bat. Unfortunately, he didn’t hit a home run, but second base was enough to score, and if he got to third base, he could put pressure on the pitcher. He prepared to run to put more pressure on the pitcher.

‘Are you going to run?’

Lee Yong-gi, standing at bat, speaks with his eyes.

‘Yes.’

After nodding slightly in response, I waited for the pitcher’s breaking ball.

‘It’s a change-up.’

A changeup that was never shown to me. I was ready to run right away. And his ball headed home,

“Safe!”

I was able to steal third base with ample timing.

‘The catcher’s level is definitely lower than that of the KBA.’

However, as if stealing third base did not bother Chen Jianhao, Lee Yong-gi struck out after 5 pitches and his first chance to score was canceled.

‘Huh, now I know the timing. Look forward to next time.’

So I had no choice but to console my regret and go into the dugout.

*

“Chen, how are you?”

“You can throw more.”

“Okay. “Please just a little more.”

Chen Jianhao nodded his head at the director’s words. The Asian Games were held to prepare for the 2024 LA Olympics, which could be the last Olympics where baseball games are held. Chen Jianhao participated with a light heart, but his expression was dark as the match was more difficult than expected.

‘The number of pitches so far is 71. ‘If I throw about 40 more pitches, I can block about 2 innings.’

As Chen Jianhao was planning the remaining innings, the Taiwanese batters’ attack was quickly coming to an end.

‘You scumbags, make time to rest.’

Chen Jianhao cursed in his mind as he watched the Taiwanese batters being helplessly thrown out by a Korean pitcher who was throwing 100 mph.

‘Ha… Those bastards also came out to increase the number of pitches as much as possible. If this continues, it will be dangerous from the next inning, but we will have to win quickly.’

Chen Jianhao was thinking of winning quickly, but one batter caught his attention. It was Ji Maeng-ho, Korea’s number 4 hitter.

When he was in the major league, he heard that there was a .400 hitter in Korea, but Chen Jianhao laughed in his heart and passed the news over.

‘Well, I thought he was a low-level KBA player…’

However, Ji Maeng-ho, whom he faced directly, was a hitter with enough skill to make a fuss in the media. He sent a forkball, which even first-time big leaguers cannot easily hit, near the fence in his first at-bat, and in his second at-bat, he turned his pitch, which is considered a good fastball even in the major leagues, into a double that directly hit the fence.

The ability to hit a long ball in just two at-bats against a pitcher he meets for the first time. If it’s your third at-bat where your pitch gets used to it…

“Chen! Wake up! “Episode 5.”

“Already?”

While Chen Jianhao was thinking about how to deal with Ji Meng-hao, Taiwan’s attack was over in the top of the 5th inning, and it was his turn. When his turn arrived quickly, Chen Jianhao sighed and went up to the mound.

“Out!”

“Strike! Out!”

Chen Jianhao quickly cooked Korean batters according to the plan he thought of during the break.

“I fell in!”

In the meantime, he allowed a hit to the 8th batter,

“Out!”

He blocked the Republic of Korea’s attack in the bottom of the 5th inning by catching the 9th batter.

‘I guess I can rest a little bit with this…’

However, contrary to Chen Jianhao’s wishes, Zhang Wuji, who knew that the 6th inning was his last inning, used up all his remaining strength and started pitching with all his might, and Taiwan’s attack in the top of the 6th inning ended without strength.

‘Fuck. This inning’s batting order… Kim, Kim, Joo. And if you can get even one person on base, it’s him. ‘This inning will be difficult.’

The third encounter with the other, which is always burdensome.

“Out!”

“Out!”

Chen Jianhao, like a major-leaguer, overcame the pressure and struck out the previous two batters. And Joo Seung-cheol’s at-bat.

‘If I just catch this guy, I won’t have to face Ji Maeng-ho this inning.’

Is it because he became relaxed at the thought of catching Joo Seung-cheol and ending the inning? Chen Jianhao, who boasted a razor-sharp pitch against South Korea, loosened his control, and Joo Seung-cheol did not miss the opportunity.

Perfect!

A batted ball passing between the second baseman and the first baseman.

‘Damn it!’

Chen Jianhao cursed under his breath, but he could not show weakness, so as always, he hid his true feelings with a confident expression.

‘Yes, it was good because I was able to deal with a difficult hitter this inning.’

After quickly performing mind control, Chen Jianhao greeted Ji Menghao, who was looking at him with burning eyes.

‘This bastard, the look in his eyes could kill anyone?’

And Ji Meng-hao’s burning eyes stimulated Chen Jian-hao’s desire to compete. Chen Jianhao, a baseball player who advanced to the major leagues, naturally has a tremendous competitive spirit.

‘So, you want to try it too?’

In fact, for major-leaguer Chen Jianhao, the Asian Games were a fairly low-level competition. Japan, whom he met in the preliminaries, did the same, and Korea, a strong candidate for the championship, did not appeal to him either. However, the only batsman to be wary of was Ji Maeng-ho, Korea’s number 4 hitter.

Ji Maeng-ho is obviously feeling the same way as himself. A feeling that only batters and pitchers who compete directly outside the game can feel! The feeling that led him to the world of baseball made Chen Jianhao’s heart pound in the middle of the game.

The eyes of the two people collided in the middle of the batter’s box and the mound, and both smiled small smiles at the same time.

“Ball.”

“Strike!”

“Ball.”

“Foul!”

“Foul!”

“Ball.”

“Foul!”

“Foul!”

The match between the two players, who were showing the best concentration throughout this tournament, continued until the full count. And Chen Jianhao instinctively felt anxious.

‘This guy’s timing is getting better. It can’t go on like this. If this happens…’

And Chen Jianhao made up his mind. I decided to throw a changeup. It was a huge penalty for a left-handed pitcher not to throw a change-up to a right-handed hitter, but Chen Jianhao, who knew that the guy was hitting change-ups like a ghost, had been blocking that change-up until now.

But now, if you throw a changeup to a guy who is timing a fastball at full count…

‘Yes, there is no way there is a batter who can hit a change-up thrown at this timing. I have never seen a batsman like that until now. If he throws a changeup, now is the time.’

In a full count situation where the ball needs to be cleared somehow, a batter who is timing a fastball hits a change-up? I had never seen such a hitter even in the major leagues. Chen Jianhao sent a changeup sign to the catcher.

After that, the ball with all his might left Chen Jianhao’s hands,

Ta – Aak!

A cheerful sound echoed through the baseball stadium.