Chapter 582 – Episode 574. Must Win! (2)

[In the top of the 5th inning, the Hwasan Falcons attack begins with Yoon Joong-il, the 6th hitter.]

Before the top of the 5th inning began, coach Moon Ki-taek gave only one instruction to his players.

[It looks like Yoon Joong-il is sticking close to the strike zone?]

[I am warning you not to throw if you are not confident in your body control. Of course, Crongs is not a pitcher who can be shaken to that degree.]

The goal was to make Crongs as uncomfortable as possible, get a walk or a base hit, and somehow get on base. Of course, this method did not work for all pitchers. Because this method only works for hot-tempered pitchers.

However, foreign players were generally hot-tempered, and Crongs was not a pitcher with a good personality. There were already a lot of rumors in the baseball world about why a pitcher like Crongs came to Korea. Moreover, because he often expressed his emotions during the game, coach Moon Ki-taek had a good chance of winning.

‘Even if you hit it like you normally would, there is no player who can hit it properly today except for Joo-yeop and cleanup. The odds are much higher if you shake it like this.’

[First pitch, ball.]

[It was a helmet that went almost towards the head, right?]

Crongs’ first pitch after throwing a game-winning move was a fast ball toward the batter’s head. As soon as he saw the ball, coach Moon Ki-taek was inwardly delighted.

‘Okay, it works!’

Right now I’m just giving you one ball, but if this situation continues…

[Crongs 2nd district… Ah, just before entering pitching form, Yoon Joong-il asks for time. The referee gave the time.]

[It was a bit of an awkward timing right now. Crongs is staring intently at the referee. Don’t accept this type of time.]

And Yoon Joong-il was faithfully carrying out director Moon Ki-taek’s instructions to lay the foundation. Coming closer to the strike zone, timing the pitcher when he is about to throw, delaying time with an absurdly long routine after setting the time, creating a dust storm with spikes, etc.

Perfect!

[… Out. Crongs catches the first batter with a light fly to center field.]

In the end, he was called out, but it was after Crongs’ face was already red. And the batter who came to bat was the 7th batter, Kim Hyeong-gun. After Yeon Sang-hyun, who was the starting left fielder, made an error and was sent to the second team, he was a hitter who settled in the first team and was evaluated as having a lot of room.

The scary hitters in fall baseball are those who have this kind of unexpected punch. AT was well aware of that fact, so they tried to deal with Kim Hyeong-gun as carefully as possible.

However,

“Time!”

As the top got longer, a time call was heard.

[Kim Hyung-gun calls time.]

[This is a time call to take away the flow because the top is getting longer, right? Good timing.]

After spending some time like that, did the AT’s battery feel something? The pitching tempo started to speed up.

“Ball.”

“Strike!”

“Strike!”

“Jitterbug! Strike out!”

[Strike out while standing! Crongs catches Kim Hyeong-geon with a looking strikeout!]

Kim Hyeong-gun could not even react properly to Crongs’ action of throwing the ball before the batters could act strangely and retired with a looking strikeout. The top of the fifth inning was almost over, but coach Moon Ki-taek was clapping to himself.

‘Good, the pitching tempo has become faster. I’m definitely feeling uncomfortable. Just a few more innings like this…’

The fact that Crongs’ pitching tempo has become faster than before means that there has been a change in his mindset. Looking at his red face like a white man, it was clear that he was boiling inside. So much so that it doesn’t feel strange even if you throw an empty ball at any time.

[… Three outs, catching Kim Seung-sik with a ground ball to shortstop! Crongs ends the 5th inning with no runs!]

Therefore, even though the top of the 5th inning ended in a three-way strike, Moon Ki-taek did not get nervous. Of course, it was natural that the foundation was based on trust in Seonghyun, the team’s ace pitcher.

[… Seonghyeon cleanly blocks the batting line consisting of Choi Jin-cheol, Yoon Seong-tae, and Kim Hyun-seong! The game now goes to the 6th inning.]

And in the 6th inning, Crongs’ nerve-racking behavior continued. In particular, Lee Won-hyeong, who came out as the last batter of the inning, got on Crongs’ nerves by leaning his body toward the zone and even covering the strike zone with his leg when doing a leg kick.

“Fuck! Hey! Don’t do that!”

Seeing that, Crongs got so annoyed that he started pointing at him.

‘That’s it, we’re almost there.’

Because it was such an abnormal batting form, it was enough for Lee Won-hyung to strike out without even touching the ball, but because he faithfully performed his duties, coach Moon Ki-taek patted Lee Won-hyung on the shoulder when he returned to the dugout.

[Bottom of the 6th inning, AT Thunders attack. We start with Baek Jeong-jin, the number 8 hitter. … Out! Now, number 9 hitter Jeong Hwi-cheol is at bat. … Strike out! Now, the number one batter, Kim Su-ho…, This batted ball! Right field! Catch it! Fantastic catch by Mac D! In the 6th episode, Seonghyun ends with a three-way victory! This is Seong-Hyun, who got outs in 15 consecutive at-bats after hitting a home run from Ji Maeng-Ho!]

And then Seonghyeon’s three-way retreat followed. The coach’s sense was telling him that the flow of the game was slowly going in their favor. Moreover, in the top of the 7th inning, the leadoff batter was Choi Si-woo, the 3rd batter.

“Siwoo. “You know that the pitching tempo is faster now, right?”

“Yes, I know.”

“Yes, it’s a fast tempo, so the ball won’t come so unexpectedly. “Of course you have memorized what ball he throws for each count, right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Since the pitching tempo is fast, he will probably throw a familiar ball. Aim for that.”

“Please leave it to me. “Director.”

[In the top of the 7th inning, Hwasan’s leadoff hitter is Choi Si-woo.]

[I’m sure he’s gritting his teeth today because he missed his chance with 1 out and 3rd base on base. What kind of performance will Choi Si-woo show? .]

[Cronx’s first pitch. Strike! Today’s pitching tempo is very fast, right?]

[If you throw it that fast based on a powerful pitch, it is a bit difficult for the batter.]

[Cronx’s second ball is, uh! On the body! You’re right! It must hurt a lot, right? The speed just reached 155 km/h…]

[It was a ball that was easily avoidable…, I’m not avoiding this. The will to get on base is really strong, right?]

[Fortunately, there seem to be no injuries. Choi Si-woo signals that he is okay and walks to first base.]

The second-highest home run hitter in the league, who is close to the strike zone. Even for Crongs, this is a bit of a burden. Crongs’ ball, which was trying to control the ball towards the borderline, was directly aimed at Choi Si-woo’s body, and Choi Si-woo did not avoid the ball but caught it with his body.

‘Good! It worked!’

A valuable on-base achievement achieved through two full innings. It wasn’t a clean get on base, but getting on base was getting on base anyway. Moon Ki-taek’s eyes and head were busy, and he began to grasp AT’s defensive position.

‘Is it Choi Si-woo? They don’t check base stealing at all. The typewriter is also a user, so he is slightly biased to the right…’

Choi Si-woo runs in this important situation? No one could have predicted that.

‘Shall we check the pitching tempo first?’

“Ball.”

Moon Ki-taek checked Crongs’ pitching tempo by watching one ball. Fortunately, Crongs’ pitching tempo did not change. If so, it means that the probability of keeping it in check is low. Moon Ki-taek quickly sent a hand signal, and the hand signal was accurately delivered to Choi Si-woo.

[Choi Si-woo’s surprise steal! You throw the ball to second base, but it already reaches second base. Three leaves!]

[Wow, who would have predicted that Choi Si-woo, the third batter here, would steal base? Were you really caught off guard? In fact, Choi Si-woo stole 6 bases this season, but failed to steal 5 bases, so his success rate wasn’t that good, right? If he had been caught, the atmosphere would have immediately shifted to AT’s side, but coach Moon Ki-taek is really strong.]

Choi Si-woo was caught off guard and stole second base, but Moon Ki-taek still had no intention of resting.

“Strike!”

‘Defensive position is normal defense. I never thought that Yonggi would bunt here.’

A valuable opportunity confirmed at the expense of one ball count. Moon Ki-taek quickly sent an autograph to Lee Yong-gi.

‘Shake up the infield.’

‘Shake up the infield? In this case, I am telling you to bunt at my discretion…’

And at Moon Ki-taek’s instructions, Lee Yong-gi’s head, who boasts the best BQ in the league, quickly turns. The target position is first baseman Choi Jin-cheol, who has lost his quickness due to age and is wary of himself as a right-handed hitter, so he leans towards second base.

Tick!

Since he was a catcher, Lee Yong-gi, who had many opportunities to bunt as a defensive back during his rookie days, made a surprise push bunt toward Choi Jin-cheol.

[Lee Yong-gi’s surprise bunt! At first base! At first base! At first base! Three leaves!]

[Wow, who would have thought that the 4th batter would bunt here. In fact, no one probably expected this because Lee Yong-gi was in good condition, recording no hits in all of his at-bats.]

[Now the situation is 1st and 3rd base with no outs. At the plate, McD… Ah, this is where director Moon Ki-taek throws a big bet. Removing Mac D and inserting pinch hitter Gon Park.]

[Park Gon is perfect at bunting, right? AT’s infield also has 100% bunt defense following the introduction of Park Gon.]

[Bundt again! Third baseman Kim Su-ho! I caught the ball and decided it was too late to hit home! It’s out at first base. Score 1:1! The Volcanic Falcons tie the score with a brilliant baseball strategy!]

One point scored by Moon Ki-taek’s brilliant hand movements. Crongs was shaken by the continued operation,

[Yoon Joong-il’s batted ball! Cut left and center! Lee Yong-gi goes all the way home! Three leaves! 2:1! The Volcano Falcons succeeded in scoring the leading score! … Crongs ends the inning with a double play! However, after conceding a point, the Volcano Falcons are now ahead 2:1.]

No matter how the inning ended, the score was overturned.

‘Okay, now if only Hyeon can block the 8th episode, or even the 7th episode…’

… The bottom of the 7th inning started with director Moon Ki-taek’s wish: That wish seemed to come true as leadoff hitter Ki Ki-joo and third hitter Williams retired with a hit.

[2 outs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Ji Maeng-ho is now at bat.]

… That is, until Ji Maeng-ho goes to bat.

*

‘Are you skipping it? Are you skipping it? Please don’t skip it.’

Two outs, trailing by 1 point. Luckily, I didn’t hear the sound I was afraid of as I entered the batter’s box after praying earnestly. And on the mound, Seonghyeon is looking down at me with a solemn expression.

‘Okay, this is how Seonghyun is. ‘You mean you won’t filter me out?’

The Hwasan bench did not skip me, perhaps because they thought that if they put me on base and hit a home run by senior Jincheol, the lead they had gained could be overturned. Or maybe I was afraid of the criticism I received from fans after they excluded me from the Korean Series when I was a rookie.

Whatever it was, it was a good thing for me.

‘Mr. Rossby, are you ready?’

‘Are you asking the obvious?’

‘What about the first pitch?’

‘It’s a first-pitch fastball.’

The first pitch Seonghyun chose was a fastball. Since I needed to see how he would deal with me, I decided to skip the first pitch and waited for Seonghyun’s first pitch.

“Strike!”

And Seonghyun’s first pitch was a strike that hit the outside. Looking at the first pitch shown to the outside, the will to never hit a home run was visible.

‘Do you think you can’t get over this?’

However, I was confident that I could get past Jamsil by pushing, unless it was Wonho’s level of pitch, so I prepared to push and waited for Seonghyun’s pitch.

‘It’s a slider.’

‘Slider?’

After throwing the ball outside, it was a slider… As a right-handed hitter, there was no way he would throw an inside slider, and the only possibility was an outside slider coming through the backdoor. Fortunately, Seonghyun’s slider was not that fast, so there was a moment to decide whether it was a ball or a strike.

‘Once I entered the zone, I searched.’

And after a short period of time, Seonghyeon’s second ball was thrown. After the ball left my hand, I felt it flying in a similar trajectory to the fastball from earlier. That means it comes in further than the fastball thrown before!

As soon as I finished judging, I quickly swung the bat.

Ta-ah!