Chapter 423 – Episode 415. The Cheater Does Not Hide the Cheat. (1)
[Lead hitter home run! Ji Maeng-ho hits home runs in two consecutive games!]
[After the second half of the season started, there were many teams that did not compete with Ji Maeng-ho, but it looks like the Hwasan Falcons are competing. In a way, it is natural. Ji Maeng-ho hit 7 home runs in the second half of the season in 41 at-bats, and his batting average was .304.1. Since he is a player who can steal third base at any time if he avoids competing with Ji Maeng-ho, this may be better if you think it will give him at least 2 points.]
[I see.]
[In addition, the Hwasan Falcons are a team that could face the AT Thunders in the Korean Series. In the Korean Series, every point is important, and considering the case of last year’s UG Overlords, in the end, we have to win.]
[Now, second batter Kim Su-ho comes in.]
A home run by the leadoff hitter in the top of the first inning. It was a situation in which any pitcher could be shaken. And Garcia is a power pitcher who is good at striking out. Like other mercenaries, if a pitcher who was good at striking out and had good ball control, there was no way he would have come to Korea. Because it meant that a mercenary who came to the KBA league had a flaw somewhere.
“Base on balls!”
“Nice!”
“Kim Su-ho was great!”
Moreover, Kim Su-ho is a hitter who is considered to be the best in the league when it comes to starting pitches. He was not a player who made a shaky pitcher feel comfortable.
[Kim Soo-ho gets on base. Now, it’s Gyeonggi Joo’s turn at bat. The performance wasn’t that good in yesterday’s game, right?]
[Yesterday’s performance was 0-hit in 3 at-bats and 1 walk. However, it cannot be said that Ki-Joo Ki has a weakness against left-handed pitching, and that is why he achieved such results. It is different against right-handed pitching. Garcia needs to be careful.]
And at the plate, Gyeongju again.
‘Fuck, fuck. There is no breathing room in these bastards’ batting lineup.’
Garcia waited for Lee Yong-gi’s sign while swearing at the dangerous batters that kept appearing.
‘Two-seam?’
‘No, it’s dangerous. You can also aim for the first pitch.’
‘Slub?’
‘Right now, all the hitters are picking out slubs. It looks like they came up with a plan.’
‘Then let’s go with a change-up.’
‘Okay.’
The battery’s choice was change-up. However, Lee Yong-gi’s expression hidden behind the catcher’s mask was not very good.
‘Useup, in cases like this, you just have to confidently press with force…’
Garcia was currently pitching too hard to run away from his strengths. He wanted to strongly demand Lee Yong-gi’s opinion, but like most Hispanic players, Garcia was also a player who got very emotional.
If he went against Garcia’s feelings here, the flow could have been completely ruined, so Lee Yong-gi had no choice but to grant Garcia’s request. However,
‘Yes, you might be caught off guard…’
Ta – Aak!
Garcia’s changeup was driven into the zone, and Ki Ki-joo was not a player who missed such a carefree ball.
“Thank you, courage!”
With a light hitting sound, the weatherman’s mouth opens. We had been together at Hancheol for about 4–5 years, so we were close brothers, but when you hit a home run and hear things like that, it’s inevitable that you’d get angry no matter how close you are.
“Under… Fuck…”
Lee Yong-gi cursed softly and visited the mound.
[A two-run home run that increases the score! Without a single out count, the AT Thunders are already up 3 points! … Lee Yong-gi is visiting the mound.]
[The pitcher needs to be calmed down. Dangerous hitters will appear one after another next time, so we must not collapse here.]
[Now, since the batting lineup consists of Williams, Choi Jin-cheol, Woo Kwan-hyung and Yun Seong-tae, we need to focus especially.]
Williams, who is recording a batting average in the mid-.300 range, Ji Maeng-ho, who has a batting average of .288 but is ranked first in home runs with 27 home runs, and Choi Jin-cheol, who is ranked third in home runs after Joo Seung-cheol, second in home runs, home runs after returning from injury. Woo Kwan-hyung, who has a batting average of .304 and sweeping away the remaining runners in the 6th batting order, and Yoon Seong-tae, who is showing off his potential as an offensive shortstop by hitting 11 home runs with a batting average of .208.
The remaining batting lineup was also not easy.
[Lee Yong-gi comes down from the mound. Has Garcia calmed down?]
[You need to calm down. In this game, in front of the home fans, we can aim for first place. A player like Garcia, who serves as the mainstay of the team, should not be shaken.]
Williams’ at-bat greeted Lee Yong-gi after he came down from the mound.
Perfect!
[This hit is toward center field! Gotcha! Center fielder Kim Joo-yeop’s fantastic diving catch! Kim Joo-yeop helps Garcia.]
Williams returned to the dugout with the first out count.
“[Hey! Williams!]”
“[Yes, yes?!]”
“[You’re not sabotaging business, right? Did you hit me like that on purpose to mess with me?]”
“[No! Sorry!]”
“[I will watch.]”
“[Trust me!]”
“What are you talking about with Meng Hao and Williams?”
“I don’t know. But Meng Hao seems ignorant, but he speaks English well.”
“I’m not ignorant!”
There was controversy in AT’s dugout about Ji Maeng-ho’s English skills, but the game continued.
[Woo Kwan-hyung’s hit! Once again, Woo Kwan-hyung brings the spark of attack to life! … Seongtae Yoon’s batted ball! Left center! Cut it out! A fast ball, the batter and runner stopped at first base! Runner on first base goes to third base! 1 out, 1st, 3rd base!]
[Wow, AT’s batting line is on fire from the first inning, as if they are trying to make amends for yesterday’s poor hitting.]
[Now, the number 8 batter, Jeong Yun-cheol, comes to bat.]
AT’s batting lineup still boasts the best offense in the league since last year. However, it was not without holes. This was because both Jeong Yun-cheol and Kim Hyun-seong, who played at catcher positions, were recording batting averages in the low to mid .200 range, giving them time to breathe.
Perfect!
[This hit is a shortstop! Got it! Second base! Out! First base! Out! It’s the Volcano Falcons, and Garcia, who ends the long first inning with a picturesque double play!]
AT’s attack in the top of the first inning ended in a double play. However, the AT players’ mood was bright.
“Garcia’s condition is not good today?”
It was because I gained confidence that I could attack Garcia today by scoring 3 points in the first inning.
“Junhoo! If you do well, my brother will give you victory!”
“No, bro, what if I shake the pitcher’s heart like that?”
“Junhu, has that bastard been like that for a day or two? Just ignore it.”
A score difference of 3 points. Lim Jun-hoo, who received strong scoring support from the first inning,
[Lee Yong-gi’s timely hit with 2 outs! Volcano Falcons make up for 1 point!]
He was hit by a timely hit from Lee Yong-gi and allowed an earned run, but ended the bottom of the first inning by striking out the next batter. And in the beginning of the second inning.
[Baek Jeong-jin gets a walk and gets on base! … Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball! High! Fence! In front! Caught! Baek Jeong-jin, who had prepared to retouch, reached second base. The scoring runner enters! … Suho Kim gets a walk. Walked two consecutive at-bats. … A weather warning batted ball appears in the infield. Two out. Williams is now at bat.]
Ta – Aak!
[Williams’ batted ball cuts into right-center field! Runner on second base! Home! Runner on first base! As expected, home! Three leaves! Meanwhile, the batter and runner reach third base! Williams’ triple! Now the score is 5:1!]
[Williams was caught on screen talking to Ji Maeng-ho in the dugout after being called out. Perhaps, I received some advice.]
Williams added two more runs with a two-run triple. After that, he didn’t score, but there was a whiff of a lopsided game starting in the second inning.
At the end of the fifth inning, the score was 7:3. The starters of both teams went down after only covering the fifth inning, and the bullpens, which were considered weak points, stepped up and the final score ended at 13:5.
[Today, the Mega Thunders Four explodes and the series is decided. Now the fate of the series continues with the final game.]
*
-AT Thunders! Defeat the Volcano Falcons!
… The game started with Ji Maeng-ho’s home run as the leadoff hitter in the top of the first inning, and thanks to the AT batting lineup that was on fire, the team took a large lead from the beginning of the game. … As a result of this game, the lead again is 2.5 games away, and the final matchup between Seonghyun and Krongs is scheduled to be a matchup, attracting the attention of baseball fans…
┗It’s so fucking fierce haha
┗Personally, I hope Hwasan wins and the competition becomes more intense.
┗Seonghyun fighting!!!
┗ㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ
*
The LA Olympics brought joy to the people by winning a gold medal. However, the Olympics did not bring joy to all baseball fans. Because international competitions and pitchers’ sluggish performance were inseparable.
After participating in an international tournament, Seonghyun also suffered from the same setbacks that pitchers experience. First match after returning to the Olympics. After recording an uncharacteristic performance for Seong-Hyun, allowing 5 runs in 3.1 innings, the Hwasan Falcons’ coaching staff gave Seong-Hyun some rest before his condition worsened.
“Hyuna, how are you feeling?”
“Is it good? “I’m definitely feeling better after getting some rest.”
And then a week of rest. The coaches were anxious because he was now at an age where he could be called a veteran and had a history of injuries, but Seonghyun felt that he was in excellent condition.
“Okay. I’m glad if you are. So, how are you going to deal with Ji Meng-ho today?”
“How do I deal with him? Of course, it’s a win. “Will I be able to avoid Meng Hao?”
“As expected, it’s Seonghyeon. Yes, we lost yesterday, but you know Ji Maeng-ho’s record isn’t that good these days, right? “Compete with confidence.”
The game ended 13:5. AT’s batting lineup opened with Ji Maeng-ho hitting a home run, but Ji Maeng-ho’s performance was not that good. 1 hit, 1 home run, and 1 walk in 4 at-bats. Ji Maeng-ho, who hit a home run in his first at-bat, kept swinging big, aiming only for home runs, perhaps because the score increased.
If Ji Maeng-ho was in good condition, he would have gone over the fence, but the fact that no batted ball went over the fence after his first at-bat was a testament to Ji Maeng-ho’s condition.
Moreover, batters aiming for home runs like that were Seonghyun’s prey. Although Sung-hyun was not particularly good at pitching in the major leagues, the way he survived in the major leagues was by making batters who were aiming for home runs with his unique pitch control and fighting moves possible.
“Of course. Coach knows that a pitcher can’t do anything without confidence.”
The final game of the series that started like that. Seonghyeon showed off perfect ball control from the first pitch and drove the ball into the zone.
“S~Trike!”
‘Uh? Strike from the first pitch? I guess we’ll compete today too? I thought it wouldn’t be a game because it was a home run in two games in a row. If this happens…, Mr. Rossby! Come down for a moment!’
And Ji Maeng-ho, who confirmed his will to compete, called Rossby, who was watching the woman in the stands.