Chapter 534 – Episode 526. Charlotte, AT and Resignation. (4)
“… “We have to play sgam, right?”
“Is that so?”
In the bottom of the 4th inning, which started with Kang Han-beom’s solo home run, Charlotte’s batting lineup was on fire and the atmosphere in the stadium was changing. Starting with Kang Han-beom’s solo home run, hits and outs were repeated from the 5th batter to the 9th batter, and before we knew it, the score was 7:6. The game, which was a 4-run game, changed to a 1-run game, and Kim Chan-young, who came on the mound in place of Crongs, had no choice but to leave the mound with one out count and one runner on third base.
Perhaps the dugout was aware of the seriousness of the situation, and the pitcher on the mound was Kang Se-ho, a sure-to-win pitcher.
“Ball.”
After the game was stopped due to rain, unlike Kim Chan-young, who tried to end the inning quickly with aggressive pitching, he threw the ball from the first pitch and showed his intention to pitch cautiously. That’s because the strategy to end the game quickly before the rain started meant that our team had to take the lead, so we had to prevent a critical situation with 2 outs and 3rd base.
‘The rain is slowly getting heavier. Fuck, if I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have struck out earlier.’
As the situation unfolds, what remains in my memory is my at-bat in the top of the fourth inning, with two outs and first base. If I had hit it right, it would have been a home run, so I couldn’t help but feel regretful.
‘Ha, what is past. Let’s focus on the game.’
2 outs, 3rd base. One hit and the score is immediately tied. Moreover, Charlotte’s better is Jeong Soo-yeol, the number one batter. He was Charlotte’s leader, hitting close to 10 home runs every year, stealing double digits, and hitting for a batting average in the low to mid .300 range. However, is it fortunate for us that Chance has a strangely weak image?
The second ball was thrown in a situation where neither team could feel at ease. Su-yeol Jeong swung like a thunderbolt at Kang Se-ho’s fastball going outward.
Perfect!
‘… Huh?!’
When you just hear the sound of the ball being hit, it seems like it’s a ball that will surpass the shortstop’s height. However, Seongtae’s body, which had been trolling throughout today’s game, flew into the air.
-Wow!!!
-Yoon Seongtae! Seongtae Yoon! Seongtae Yoon!
A super catch that even I can’t help but be surprised by. Jeong Soo-yeol, confident of a hit, bows his head.
“Wow, what is your defense? How can this kind of defense…”
I ran quickly, made a super catch, and reached out to Seongtae, who was lying on the wet ground.
“I said you were my spy.”
As expected, it had the effect of constantly accusing him of being Charlotte’s spy. If he hadn’t been so keen, he would have missed a hit like this, but it was clear that he was motivated after hearing what I said.
“Wow, I admit it today.”
So, I decided to clear Seongtae of being a spy for just one day and helped him up. And when we returned to the dugout, the coach gathered the players again.
“Now, you know things have changed, right? It’s the beginning of the 5th inning. Although it is raining a bit, there is no rain cold unless Sajik Stadium is flooded. Let’s score as many points as we can and go comfortably into the bottom of the fifth inning.”
Since the score difference was now 1 point, it was a given procedure to change strategy immediately upon returning to the dugout. Our batting order to score runs was pretty good. Although his batting average is low, Choi Jin-cheol boasts the second-highest number of home runs on the team, and Yoon Seong-tae has gained momentum thanks to his recent excellent performance. In addition, Kim Hyun-seong, whose batting was at a level that made you want to slap yourself, but was good at bunting, Jeong Hwi-cheol, who made good contact, and Baek Jeong-jin, who was close to the 5-tool.
It was enough to raise expectations because it was a batting lineup that would not be able to score at least 1 point if it exploded.
-Pitcher replacement, number 17. Jang Gyu-seong. No. 17 Jang Gyu-seong.
However, Charlotte’s coaching staff must have been idiots as well, as they read the changing atmosphere at Sajik Stadium and sent Jang Gyu-seong, a sure-fire pitcher who was said to be the only one among Charlotte’s pitching staff, on the mound.
‘Under… Let’s take it easy by giving just one more point.’
Perfect!
“Choi Jin-cheol Nice! It was good!”
“Sseu-eup, I’m having a hard time. The condition of the mound seems very strange. Hey! Chanyoung! “How was the mound?”
“Hmm… To be honest, saying this feels like an excuse, but it’s complete nonsense. “Maybe Seonghyeon won’t be able to play well on that mound?”
“Okay? Okay, okay.”
The atmosphere in the dugout was already heated up thanks to senior Jin-cheol’s hit and Kim Chan-young’s testimony. Now, all that’s left is for Seongtae, who was falsely accused of being a spy, to get a clean blow!
“Out!”
“Out!”
“Oh, that’s right then.”
This time, a well-hit line drive to right field was caught by Martinez, and senior Jincheol, who had already started, was unable to return to first base and doubled out. Today, a well-hit ball turned into a line drive double play twice. Now I was so pitiful that I couldn’t even make fun of him. In fact, two hits were stolen.
“Ha, fuck.”
Seongtae, who seemed to be holding back a bit of laughter even after losing in the game against Charlotte, must have been very angry, came into the dugout swearing.
‘… Surely that isn’t acting?’
Although I had some doubts, I watched Hyeonseong’s at-bat without any doubts because of the rain today.
“Strike! Out!”
Without much to see, it ended with an out and that was the end of our 5th inning.
“The rain is slowly getting heavier, so let’s just stop it for one inning.”
Bottom of the 5th inning with a 1 run lead. Fortunately, Kang Se-ho, who came up from the previous inning, put five batters at the plate against Charlotte’s busy batting line, but the inning ended with no runs allowed.
… And as the 5th episode ended, the raindrops started to subside like ghosts.
“Wow, I’m going crazy today. It’s either going to rain or not, damn it.”
“But there are no rain stoppages anymore, so let’s do our best and let’s go.”
The weather continued to fluctuate, but one thing is certain: there is no rain stoppage now, so we have to fight for one point.
However, such determination was also evident in Charlotte, as our attack ended in a three-way strike in the top of the 6th inning, and Park Jin-hyuk, who was new to the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning, also blocked the first inning cleanly, bringing the score to 7:6 until the top of the 7th inning. It continued and maintained.
And again, the rain keeps getting thicker…
“… “It’ll be over soon, right?”
All of us looking at the rain could predict that the rain would soon end the game. In other words, this inning might be the last chance. And even if the two batters in front of me are out, I still get a chance.
An opportunity to drive a wedge…
“Out!”
“Out!”
And that opportunity came sooner than expected as seniors Sangju and Williams retired after hitting hard. As soon as I came out of the standby batter’s box, Charlotte’s dugout became busy again.
-Pitcher replacement. No. 61 Song Jae-yeol, No. 61 Song Jae-yeol.
‘If it’s Song Jae-yeol, it’s over, but in the 7th episode… ? Well, it’s going to rain soon, so it’s actually the last inning or the 1.1 inning.’
Although I was a little surprised by the sudden appearance of the closing pitcher, it was an understandable appearance. Charlotte’s dugout completely read the flow of the game and thought this was the game.
‘Wait, I can’t see very well.’
Now the rain has become quite thick and visibility is slightly obscured, but the situation was similar because the only thing that was worse was the pitcher.
‘It’s two-minded.’
‘Okay.’
“Ball.”
And Song Jae-yeol, who couldn’t get used to the soggy mound, threw the pitcher behind the umpire’s head.
‘Okay, if the pitch is at this level, I don’t need to worry about it, right?’
When I saw the situation where the ball missed sharply, I didn’t think there was any need to pay attention to his pitch today. Then all that’s left is a four-seam and a forkball.
‘It’s a four-seamer this time.’
‘Okay.’
A fateful combination for forkballers. Is this a ball combination that clearly targets a high fastball and a low forkball?
“Ball.”
And once again, the fastball hits the high zone.
‘Then now…’
‘Yes, it’s a forkball.’
Clearly, a strike is urgent. There is no way to hit the forkball on the ground here, so his location is in the low zone. Moreover, since it was a two-ball game, even if I missed the swing, the count was still advantageous. My perfect turn…
The only sound was the sound of rain hitting his helmet as he lifted his leg to throw the third ball. And,
‘… ‘High!’
If the forkball starts high, it means it’s in the zone! I immediately set the bat’s trajectory to the center and whipped out the loaded bat…,
‘Huh?!’
However, the forkball floats high without breaking.
Perfect!
It feels like hitting the bottom of the ball and the ball floats high.
‘Oh, shit.’
Perhaps because it was raining, he couldn’t hit the ball properly, and the forkball went flat into the zone. Even if I had calmed down just a little, I would have endured it with the strength of my back and gotten over it… Plus, because of the rain, I made my decision a little later than usual. Although it was very small, the difference was fatal in betting.
The batted ball was caught by the center fielder and the top of the 7th inning ended.
‘Under… If this is the case, is it still worth 1 point?’
Now all I can trust is the rain and the pitcher…
“Let’s make sure we block the bottom of the 7th! If you look at the forecast, it’s the beginning of the 8th inning at most!”
*
[At the bottom of the 7th inning, the pitcher coming up for the AT Thunders is still Park Jin-hyuk.]
[There is an assessment that Park Jin-hyuk is mentally weak, but his pitching mechanism is very tough. He is a pitcher who knows how to throw his ball even in this rain. Plus, he has a lot of experience. Coach Lee Soo-hyun also has full faith in this season.]
[… Out! … Out! There is now one out count left until the end of the inning! And the batter is Kang Han-beom, who hit two home runs today. … Park Jin-hyuk’s sixth ball in a full count situation! Strong Beom! Yet again! High! Far! Through the rain! Kang Han-beom’s batted ball! Heading over the fence! 7:7! In the end, Charlotte bats 4th, Korea’s 4th batter Kang Han-beom, who brings this game back to square one!]
[Hey… It’s really amazing. Only Kang Han-beom can hit a home run like this here.]
[… Park Jin-hyuk finishes the remaining out count and gets off the mound. Bottom of the 7th inning. This is resignation where the score is maintained at 7:7!]
-ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅅㅂ This is what it tastes likeㅋㅋㅋ
┗ㄹㅇ I saw everything there was to see. Ji Maeng-ho’s home run, Kang Han-beom’s 3 home runs, error party, rain, and walk. Suddenly a pitcher’s battle. Fuck, it’s so informative haha
-But it’s raining so hard, the game won’t end?
┗Ah, it’s home. Please let the game end
┗Ah, Song Jae-yeol is coming up again. Please let’s stop him for just one inning.
[… Song Jae-yeol catches Choi Jin-cheol! One out.]
-Jaeyeol got the hang of it haha
-Okay, now if you pass the plate and catch the catcher, the inning is over. If this is the case, I guess we have until the end of the 8th inning?
[Now at the plate is Seongtae Yoon… Oh, you’re pinch-hitting here? I thought Kim Hyun-seong would be a pinch hitter at the plate, but Manager Lee Soo-hyun made a quick decision.]
[Yoon Seong-tae was a little unlucky today, right? I think it is the right decision.]
-ㅅㅂ Why are you asking me to leave out my boyfriend? That bastard hit 10 home runs this season, ㅅㅂ
┗Daetime instead of small concubine? Who is it?