Chapter 288 – Episode 286. Ji Maeng-Ho vs Joo Seung-Cheol. (1)

Hyunsik Kim. He is Hancheol’s left-handed ace and a pitcher who has consistently won 10 games in recent years. His main weapons are a changeup and curve that shake up the batter’s timing, and his control, which is considered the best in the country. In particular, AT fans tended to tremble at the name Kim Hyun-sik, because Kim Hyun-sik was a pitcher renowned as an AT killer over the past few years.

Due to the composition of the AT Thunders team, which has many left-handed hitters, there were no suitable hitters to deal with Kim Hyun-sik, and the best left-handed hitters on the team, Kim Soo-ho and Woo Kwan-hyung, were weak against Kim Hyun-sik, so there was no way to target Kim Hyun-sik. Kim Hyun-sik was so strong in AT that there was even a joke that half of Kim Hyun-sik’s salary came from AT, but not this season.

Thanks to the addition of strong right-handed hitter Na and Choi Jin-cheol and the newly recruited Ki Ki-joo. For a left-handed hitter, Kim Hyun-sik was pretty good at catching him, so Kim Hyun-sik was particularly weak for us this season.

In particular, Kim Hyun-sik’s main weapons, curve and change-up, did not work for me at all, so there was no game this season where I could not stop Kim Hyun-sik.

Hancheol’s coaches also noticed this and adjusted the rotation during the week of our game.

However, in the semi-playoffs where the rotation cannot be postponed, Kim Hyun-sik was announced as the starting pitcher for Game 2.

“… So, seniors can do it like they did yesterday. I will carry you today. But if Game 3 is like yesterday, will I be angry?”

“The youngest kid said he was angry with his senior, and the world got a lot better.”

“It’s good that this kid is good at baseball, but he’s unlucky.”

“Ah, but Meng Hao carried me yesterday. Let’s try harder today.”

My seniors playfully criticized my declaration of carry, but it seemed like they had faith in me underneath it all.

“Now, pay attention! “The game is about to start, so stop chatting and come out.”

“Yes.”

Following the coach’s instructions, we came out to the dugout and were greeted by autumn sunlight and fans filling the stands.

‘Continuing from yesterday, it was full today too, wasn’t it?’

Since around the time I went to the Asian Games, there have been more days when Jamsil was full than when it was empty, so I can guess how much the fans were waiting for our fall baseball game.

‘It wouldn’t be right to show such fans the same stupid performance from yesterday twice.’

Bellingham’s performance, which I saw during practice, looked pretty good. And the opponent is Kim Hyun-sik, who is no different from my dick. Today’s game felt pretty good.

‘Okay, let’s go.’

The first inning started with a good feeling,

Dang!

“Center!”

Perfect!

“Second!”

Bellingham easily caught the first and second batters.

Ta – Aak!

“It’s okay, it’s okay! Two outs. Let’s catch just one batter!”

“Base on balls.”

After that, there was a crisis where 3rd hitter Joo Seung-cheol and 4th hitter Lee Yong-gi gave up hits and walks,

“Swing strike out!”

He caught Esteban, the 5th batter, and ended the first inning with no runs.

“[Good ball, Bellingham?]”

“[Thanks. Please take care of me today as well.]”

“[Okay, just trust me.]”

Bellingham was a quiet person, so he didn’t say things like this often, but today’s game had a special meaning to him.

‘Well, I’ve been in Korea for three or four years now, and I’ve never been to the postseason, so it’s worth it.’

If he had a strange personality like Crongs, he would have been happy to rest in the fall, but Bellingham was a pitcher who adapted well to Korea as a long-lived mercenary.

“[Whoa, you can do it. You can do it.]”

… He adapted so well that the problem was that he was a little nervous like a Korean player. Still, when I saw him pitching, it was fortunate that he didn’t look like he was having a hard time.

‘Usually, pitchers who are that nervous pitch well once they score a point… I need to score quickly.’

And then the attack began in the bottom of the first inning. Kim Hyun-sik displayed more precise control than usual and caught the out count. Perhaps because it was fall baseball, it felt like Kim Hyun-sik gave his all from the first inning.

Ta – Aak!

But we had a weather note. Yesterday, he had a tough time as all the batted balls going near the fence were caught, but he made a big hit by kicking up a slow curve against Kim Hyun-sik.

The batted ball was large, flew far, and landed in a location where the outfielder could not catch it. A clean double to right-center.

“Nice!”

Without realizing it, I was impressed by that batted ball, which can be considered the standard double hit.

‘I like it.’

‘Of course it’s good. It’s a scoring ticket.’

‘Hehe. It’s good.’

Why are you smiling unluckily?

“Meng Hao, are you here?”

“I guess you were waiting?”

As I entered the batter’s box, Lee Yong-gi welcomed me warmly.

“If I had just come back to bat yesterday, I would have hit one. Kavi. Now go.”

“Yes?”

“Walk.”

Lee Yong-gi’s words to go. Only now did I realize why Rossby was laughing so hard. There was no reason not to skip me with 2 outs and 2nd base. It was not the time when Ki Ki-ju was happy that he had reached second base. Rather, it was worse than a hit.

“What are you doing? “I’m not walking.”

The referee also signals to walk quickly.

‘Fuck… After…, But the next batter is senior Jincheol…’

Yesterday, when the team’s batting lineup was completely silent, the player who scored 1 point despite my help was Choi Jin-cheol. There was no doubt about his skills.

‘Please. Let’s take the lead and go comfortably. ‘Senior!’

Is it because my earnest prayers reached me?

Perfect!

Choi Jin-cheol’s batted ball exquisitely passed over the shortstop’s glove and landed in front of the left fielder. With two outs, Ki Ki-joo started running from the moment the sound of the ball was struck and was already aiming for home. And Kim Dong-jin’s throw was also heading toward home.

‘The timing… !’

Considering Kim Dong-jin’s strong arms and his ability to focus on weather, the timing at home is a close match. As soon as I arrived at third base, a game was underway at home to score one point.

“Safe!”

And the result is safe.

– Choi Jin-cheol! Choi Jin-cheol! Choi Jin-cheol!

Jamsil Stadium began to fill with the voices of fans chanting Choi Jin-cheol’s name.

“So, does senior Jincheol, who ranks second in home runs, look like a dick? “How dare you filter me out?”

“… I can hear it.”

As I ignored third baseman Hancheol’s words, brushed the dirt off my uniform, and waited for the next batter, Jamsil Stadium started ringing again. The main character who made Jamsil vibrate was AT’s heart, Woo Kwan-hyung. Although he had a double play in yesterday’s game, he didn’t seem to be in bad shape enough to hit a double that resulted in an extra point.

‘Please, Senior Gwanhyung. Please do one more thing here!’

The moment I prayed again because the effect of today’s prayer was good.

Ta – Aak!

Woo Gwan-hyeong’s batted ball flew at an ideal angle.

‘Okay… Everything?’

However, the batted ball falls helplessly in front of the fence. Right before going over the fence, Woo Gwan-hyeong’s batted ball was caught in the deepest part of Jamsil.

“Ah… If you were just one day younger…”

I had no choice but to return to the dugout, swallowing my regret as I watched the hit that made me sigh.

‘Still, I’m glad we got the first score. I’m sure Bellingham will find his peace with this.’

*

“Sseu-eup, the ball is brutal?”

“Bellingham, why is that bastard acting like that all of a sudden? “It was okay to paint during the season.”

The second game of the semi-playoffs between AT and Hancheol was already entering the middle of the game. Now that the top of the 5th inning has begun, the score difference between both teams is 3 points. In the bottom of the third inning, the AT Thunders were ahead thanks to Ji Maeng-ho’s two RBI double.

“If we are dragged any further, today’s game will be difficult…”

At a time when Hancheol’s players were worried about the game, a commotion broke out on the ground.

[An Si-Hwon’s surprise bunt! Heading to third base! Kim Soo-ho catches this ball and goes to first base! To first base! Ah! My apology is late. A Si-Hwon’s leadoff hitter gets on base!]

9th batter An Si-Hwon caught the AT defense off guard with a surprise bunt. Getting on base while being pulled.

“An Si-Hwon! A Si-Hwon! A Si-Hwon!”

Hancheol’s fans chanted An Si-Hwon’s name with joyful voices,

“Oh, shit! A Si-Hwon, is that bastard again?”

AT’s fans fired curses. The curse contained deeper sincerity than usual, and the reason was simple. If AT fans had to pick the player they hate the most, Si-Hwon And was the player who harassed AT to the extent that all fans would pick Si-Hwon An.

“Oh, An Si-Hwon, if that bastard gets on base, something will happen… !”

An Si-Hwon, who has been famous for his sensible play since his rookie days, has shown his skills in full bloom since 2015 when the Hancheol Grizzlies won the repeat, and has been harassing the AT Thunders with his unique BQ (baseball IQ: baseball intelligence) full of sense. Defense from base running. And the bat is on fire whenever it encounters AT. Now that he is older, his physical prowess is not at the level of his prime, but his sensible play has become more skillful.

‘Ha, I hadn’t even thought about it.’

So much so that he took advantage of the moment when everyone was off guard and attempted a surprise bunt on the first pitch. And Si-Hwon An went to first base and started harassing Bellingham.

‘It’s hard for a slow-footed bastard to bother me…’

‘Bellingham! Don’t worry about the runners and compete with the batter!’

As Bellingham was focusing on the runner on first base, catcher Jeong Yun-cheol noticed this and sent a signal to focus on the batter. Bellingham nodded his head with his characteristic expressionless face, but the slightly frowning eyebrows showed what state he was in now.

‘Okay, let’s just compete as a batsman. ‘It’s a 3-point gap anyway.’

In this way, Bellingham continued his game with Kim Dong-jin, the number one hitter, and before we knew it, the count was two strikes, two balls.

‘I’ll strike out with this pitch!’

When Bellingham’s winning shot headed toward the strike zone,

“Uh? Run!”

An Si-Hwon started running. And then an operation that no one else could have imagined occurred.

Tak!

Kim Dong-jin, Hancheol’s number one hitter who beat prominent players to win the stolen base title last season, pushed the ball away with his bat down. It was a bunt with two strikes.

[Ah! Kim Dong-jin’s three bunt attempt!]

When a bunt is attempted after two strikes, if the batted ball goes outside the foul line, it is out, so it is a gamble that most players or managers do not even attempt. However, Hancheol’s manager believed in Kim Dong-jin’s bunt skills, so he attempted such a bold strategy.

“… !”

Because a bunt was an unexpected situation, AT’s infielder stopped for a split second. And Bellingham, who was closest, came to his senses and ran toward the bat.

“Catch it!”