Chapter 289 – Episode 287. Ji Maeng-Ho vs Joo Seung-Cheol. (2)
When Bellingham caught the ball with his glove, Ansi Hwon, who started running first, was near second base. However, the ball is faster than the person, so if you throw it, it will be a close game.
‘I can catch it…’ ?’
When Bellingham, after making his decision, was about to throw the ball toward second base,
“… First!”
The gunner’s shout was heard from behind. The decision was to throw to first base. At that shout, Bellingham paused for a moment and lost his balance. Bellingham, who immediately gathered himself, ignored the voice and threw the ball to second base, but because his balance was lost, the throw did not go in the correct direction.
“Safe!”
And the second base umpire’s judgment was accurate. Shortstop Yoon Seong-tae jumped and caught the ball and tagged An Si-hwon, but An Si-hwon’s hand had already touched the base.
[Safe! With consecutive bunts, the Hancheol Grizzlies have the opportunity to reach first and second base with no outs!]
Two bunts and two runners on base. This is a situation in which any pitcher has no choice but to be shaken. If the stage was a postseason stage with more pressure than usual, there was no need to explain the pressure the pitcher felt.
Bellingham was also feeling the same pressure.
Being a long-serving mercenary in the KBA meant being a player with a strong work ethic, and Bellingham was a pitcher who supported the AT Thunders pitching staff, which had collapsed for three years. It wouldn’t have been surprising if a normal pitcher was swept along and collapsed at any time, but Bellingham endured it in silence. Not complaining in difficult situations and quietly dedicating yourself to the team.
Therefore, for Bellingham, the AT Thunders were not just a foreign team. Bellingham, like other Korean players, was a player full of love for the team.
‘I can’t collapse here! How did autumn come, I must be with my team… ! Climb to a higher place!’
The first fall baseball game in three years came under such circumstances. Bellingham’s heart was filled with responsibility to lead the team to victory,
[Kim Jeong-hyun hit me! Hit this ball high! Split between center field and right field! Si-Hwon An goes home! Kim Dong-jin all the way to third base! Ji Maeng-ho receives the ball! Kim Dong-jin ordered to stop at third base! Hancheol Grizzlies added 1 point with Kim Jeong-hyeon’s double!]
[Kim Jeong-hyun’s batting was very good. AT’s good broadcast play prevented additional points, but now we are on 2nd and 3rd base with no outs.]
This time, that feeling of responsibility became toxic. The only good thing for AT is that Han-cheol’s coach was conscious of Ji Maeng-ho’s shoulder and stopped the runner at third base. AT’s pitching coach visited the mound during the ensuing crisis,
“[What do you want to do? The first base is empty, and if Joo Seung-cheol is missed, it is Lee Yong-gi with the bases loaded and no outs. You choose.]”
Currently, the most dangerous hitter in Hancheol is Joo Seung-cheol. The second most dangerous hitter was Lee Yong-gi. Although it is common to use the bases loaded strategy, it is a risky situation no matter what choice you make. AT’s pitching coach handed over the choice to the team’s ace, who had been devoted for a long time.
Some may criticize him for passing on responsibility, but it was a courtesy to the ace who had been firmly guarding the team’s mound for three years.
“[I will compete with Joo Seung-cheol.]”
And Bellingham’s choice was a match against Joo Seung-cheol.
“[Yes, please.]”
A crisis situation came in the 5th episode. AT Thunders trusted Bellingham and entrusted the game to them.
-Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol! Joo Seung-cheol!
And all of Hancheol’s fans chanted Joo Seung-cheol’s name in unison. Joo Seung-cheol, who was evaluated as the closest hitter to the majors before Ji Maeng-ho’s debut, was a hitter who improved every year, and although he was unable to achieve the record of 30-30 for the third consecutive year due to injury this season, he was at his peak, with his OPS rising from the previous year. It was a batsman running.
‘This match is the deciding factor of today’s game.’
Many people watching the game naturally had that thought in their minds. And…
Ta – Aak!
Joo Seung-cheol’s bat swung like lightning after the fifth ball.
-Waaaaa!!
[This hit is to the left wall! Left fence! Left fence! It passed! Joo Seung-cheol’s three runs! Joo Seung-cheol, the son of a hero, becomes the hero who turns this game around!]
[After all, you can’t fake blood, right? Joo Hyung-jin was also a player worthy of being called a clutch hitter, as he always hit when needed, and his son Joo Seung-cheol also shows off his clutch skills!]
While Jamsil was in the throes of excitement, Joo Seung-cheol started making unusual moves at the plate.
[Uh? What is that ceremony?]
Joo Seung-cheol’s knees bent, and the bat was aimed. What was different from Ji Maeng-ho’s ceremony the previous day was that the direction of the bat was not toward the left-field fence where the batted ball flew, but toward Ji Maeng-ho, who was standing on second base. After the bat strikes once, it flies beautifully. As if we had practiced.
Haha, Joo Seung-cheol is getting revenge for yesterday. Ji Maeng-ho, his expression is wrinkled?]
[Actually, since Ji Maeng-ho did such a ceremony, many batters have been interviewed saying that they would like to have such a ceremony, but other than Ji Maeng-ho, not a single batter has ever done such a ceremony? However, today, Joo Seung-cheol takes revenge for yesterday as a rival match!]
“The expression on your face is nice to see.”
“… “Have you practiced?”
“Uh, I did some research while watching your video. “Your ceremony was amazing.”
“… Fuck.”
Joo Seung-cheol passed by Ji Meng-ho and scratched his insides.
‘I feel bad because I got hurt. Fuck.’
Looking at Joo Seung-cheol like that, all Ji Maeng-ho can do is swear. Ji Maeng-ho’s mentality was shaken by the ceremony where he was shot. And it was the same for pitcher Bellingham.
After one storm passed, Bellingham faced the next batter, Lee Yong-gi, but he gave up a clean hit and allowed five batters in a row to get on base without getting a single out count. The butterfly effect that started with two bunt hits.
In the end, AT’s dugout had no choice but to make a decision.
[Like this, Bellingham comes down from the mound.]
[Actually, I could see Bellingham shaking after the two bunt hits? At least I should have made a decision when Kim Jung-hyun hit a double, but it’s a shame. It wouldn’t have mattered if it was the regular season, but today’s game is the semi-playoffs, right? I regret my experience with AT.]
“[Lift your head up. Bellingham. You did your best.]”
“[… Sorry.]”
Hot tears flowed from the eyes of the ace who had been on the mound for three years as the coach consoled him. The team members were embarrassed to see Bellingham for the first time, but they all turned their heads and pretended not to see Bellingham’s tears.
Bellingham’s first fall baseball debut, which dedicated himself to the team, ended in tears, and Hancheol’s batting lineup finished the top of the fifth inning by adding two more runs. Once the momentum was lost, there was no sign of returning.
“Oh fuck!”
Even Ji Maeng-ho, who all the fans were looking forward to, was mentally shaken by Joo Seung-cheol’s ceremony and retired with a poor hit in his next at-bat.
[Hancheol scores an extra point.]
The chaotic atmosphere could not be resolved, and the Grizzlies began to score runs away. When the starting pitcher and the No. 4 hitter, the center of the batting lineup, were shaken, the AT players were shaken as well, and by the time the AT Thunders players came to their senses, the score had already increased to 8:3.
[Ji Maeng-ho’s two-run home run! In the bottom of the 8th inning, Ji Maeng-ho adds the chasing score!]
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Ji Maeng-ho chased after him by hitting a two-run home run in his fourth at-bat,
[The score gap widened a lot, but now it’s narrowed to 3 points, right? Because it is a save situation, AT also has a chance.]
The game ended with Jeong Tae-hwan, a closing pitcher with ample postseason experience, protecting the lead.
[8:5! Game over! The balance of the game returns to square one!]
[As expected, it is as tense as the Jamsil rivalry that took place in fall baseball for the first time in 23 years. It was a really fun game.]
[Yesterday was Ji Maeng-ho, today is Joo Seung-cheol. Who will be the hero of the third game!]
*
-[Jun PO] Today’s protagonist is Joo Seung-cheol! Balance the game.
… Joo Seung-cheol hit three runs in the top of the 5th inning, when the team was losing, and Han-cheol Grizzlies succeeded in turning the game around. …
Wow, I feel bad for Ji Maeng-ho.
ㄴThis is Joo Seung-cheol haha
ㄴNice! Let’s go to the playoffs like this!!!!!
ㄴI’m tired of the actual education of the ceremony haha
-Did you see the bastard’s face turn red? What a dog haha
ㄴㄹㅇㅋㅋㅋ My face was so fucking red
Damn it was so cool.
-But isn’t it rude to aim the bat at a player?
ㄴIt’s famous that the two players are close friends, but they both grew up as scholars haha
ㄴI looked at this person’s last post and saw that he likes it when he holds Ji Maeng-ho’s ceremony. Are the fans of that team a fan of Naeronambul?
ㄴㄴㅋ It’s fall after 20 years, so we need to understand. We’ll be the ones going up anyway.
-[Jun PO] Game 3 of the semi-playoffs, ‘Ace Showdown’ preview!
… The AT Thunders announced left-handed ace ‘Jang Yoon’ as the starting pitcher, and the Hancheol Grizzlies raised expectations by announcing ‘foreign ace’ Radet. Jang Yoon was recruited as a free agent by AT this season and showed what a model free agent is by winning 14 games, while Radette played the role of Hancheol’s ace and won the wild card game. The two aces of both teams will…
How come there are so many aces in such a small country? LOL
No, but it’s ace level.
ㄴGoing for the 3rd round too!!
*
“Fuck, I feel dirty.”
After the second game, there was a day’s rest, but this dirty feeling did not go away. I could understand that it was a ceremony. I was doing it too. But I couldn’t forgive myself for missing the opportunity because of that.
If I had scored in the bottom of the 5th inning, the game would have been tighter. I was so angry that I couldn’t show my swing because I was so emotional at the time. He hit a home run in the very next at-bat, but it was too late to turn the game around. A meaningless home run that has no impact on the game. I ended up hitting a home run like that.
‘Today is different. Today… !’
Even if there is a situation like the last game, stay as calm as possible. While taking my swing.
I entered the third game with such determination. The opportunity came sooner than expected.
“Fuck, how long has it been since we reached the base safely? “I think this is my first time playing fall baseball?”
As leadoff hitter Kim Joo-yeop got on base due to an error by the shortstop, Kim Soo-ho hit a lucky hit. The best opportunity to hit the bases loaded with no outs came due to a weather-related walk that followed. But even in such a golden opportunity, I was more calm than ever.
“Ball.”
“Ball.”
“Strike!”
“Ball.”
Slowly, waiting for a good ball to come into the strike zone.
‘It’s a fastball.’
‘Yes. … ‘Huh?’
And when the lost pitch came, I swung the bat without missing the missed pitch.
Ta – Aak!
A batted ball that disappears far away. He continued to watch the batted ball, and as soon as it hit the stands, he threw the bat far away.
“Puck!”
Radette throws his glove and curses at obvious provocation. I laughed because it felt like me in the second game. And when Radette saw my laughter, he threw down his hat.
‘We will take the third game!’