Chapter 678 – Episode 665. A Powerful Pitcher in the League. (2)

“Safe!”

When the second ball is thrown, a loud shout from the second base umpire is heard.

‘… After all, if I send it out, it will be a bother.’

Wonho bit his lip as he heard that cry.

Maengho’s bunt got on base, which was completely unexpected. And then a stolen base.

Some people may say that it is okay to move forward and defend bunts, but if the infield is pulled in to deal with bunts, the distance between the infield and outfield becomes too wide, which increases the probability of getting a hit.

Moreover, that was not the only problem.

As the distance between the batter and the infielder got closer, the infielders were unable to react to the ground ball, and Maengho was the fastest hitter in the league. In other words, playing defense against a fierce tiger against a bunt meant that you were bound to suffer losses no matter what the outcome.

‘Still, I didn’t think they’d bunt already. ‘It’s definitely coming out with full power, right?’

Honestly, Wonho, who watched Mengho closely, felt that Mengho was a hitter who could hit .500 if he only bunted. However, the only games in which Maeng Ho bunted were important games such as the Korean Series or the Olympic finals. And those words meant that he recognized himself enough to bunt on this stage.

Wonho’s mood improved slightly at the fact that he was recognized, but he came back to reality when he saw Choi Jin-cheol at bat.

Choi Jin-cheol was older and not in his prime, but he was still a hitter who felt pressure. Moreover, the performance he showed in the wild card match was as threatening as in his prime.

‘But I have to overcome it. To go to the same stage as Meng Hao.’

But that didn’t mean Wonho was broken.

2nd base with no outs. A perfect crisis that anyone can see. If there is one out, they will probably run straight to third base to aim for one run.

This was the homework Meng Hao gave himself. The homework is how to overcome this crisis.

‘Meng Hao. It was a good attempt, but you won’t be able to defeat me if you run away like that.’

Wonho was confident that he would not give up even a single run unless Maengho was at bat.

2nd base safe? Safe 3rd base? It’s meaningless anyway if the batter doesn’t even touch the bat.

Wonho gathered himself and threw the third ball towards Choi Jin-cheol.

“Strike!”

And the result is a strike. Now the count is one ball, two strikes.

‘Let’s go to the splitter.’

The ball Wonho chose in the perfect pitcher’s count was the splitter that got him to where he is now. On days with good conditions, that splitter comes out in the low to mid 140s.

… And today, Wonho was in the best condition.

“Swing strike out!”

Choi Jin-cheol’s bat goes wide.

[Swing strikeout! Kim Won-ho turns Choi Jin-cheol around!]

Choi Jin-cheol was informed by Maeng-ho that he was a splitter, but he could not touch Won-ho’s decisive ball, and Maeng-ho could feel this fact as soon as he saw the at-bat.

‘Fuck, even if I told you this, I wouldn’t be able to play it?’

The fact that today’s Wonho is throwing a ball that even if he knows it, he can’t hit it.

‘If I had known this would happen, would I have just aimed for a home run, regardless of whether it was oatmeal or rice?’

And a bit of regret comes rushing in. But things had already happened, and I had to do my best. Therefore, Meng Hao once again aimed for third base.

“Safe!”

[Ji Maeng-ho succeeds in stealing third base! Now the situation becomes 1 out, 3rd base!]

[1 out, 3rd base. As long as it is not a fly in the infield, Ji Maeng-ho is a player who can aim for home at any time. You can’t stop Ji Maeng-ho with a shallow fly or infield ground ball.]

[That means he is likely to concede a goal.]

[That’s right. Kim Won-ho is in crisis.]

Now the situation is 1 out, 3rd base. Among the many possible moves, there are fewer cases where no points are conceded…

Perfect!

[Ah! Seongtae Yoon’s batting ball is high! This batted ball is handled by the shortstop, who comes down near the pitcher. Silla Triggers handles shortstop’s fly ball!]

And Kim Won-ho was a pitcher who knew how to create the right situation, proving that the title of the best pitcher this season was not a lie.

‘Meng Hao. ‘What do you think?’

I make eye contact with Meng Hao, who is standing on third base. When he was on first base, Meng Hao had a confident expression on his face, but now, Meng Hao’s expression was like that of a very upset child.

‘Yeah, are you upset? Let’s do it right next time at bat.’

Now at the plate is Kim Sang-min. This season, he was a decent hitter with a batting average of .208 and 14 home runs, but

[Kim Sang-min’s batted ball flies into the outfield. But in front of left field. Three out. Ji Maeng-ho was put on base with no outs, but Kim Won-ho finished the inning with no runs while handling three batters.]

As a decent typist, I couldn’t hold out my business card in front of Wonho.

Maengho went out to first base with no outs, but the result was no runs.

‘Don’t run away. Ji Maeng-ho.’

Kim Won-ho, the best pitcher in the league this season, sent a message to Ji Maeng-ho with his eyes,

‘Yes, this is how my friend Wonho should be.’

Mengho looked at Wonho’s eyes and responded with a smile.

*

“Whoosh, whoosh…” .”

I can even hear Diaz’s breathing as he stands on the mound. A desperate situation with one out and bases loaded. Diaz continued to hit hard hits in the second inning, and in the third inning, he created a crisis with one out and the bases loaded.

The good news is that we haven’t conceded any goals yet?

And one more thing.

“Time!”

I was also fortunate to have a senior security guard who was a veteran. When I saw Diaz shaking, I immediately bided my time and went up to the mound.

“Diaz, are you okay?”

“[Are you okay. It’s okay.]”

“Let’s take a breath and go. Meng Hao, please translate.”

As Senior Kyung-ho said, this time did not have much meaning. It just has the effect of taking your breath away. However, sometimes that was enough. Breathing problems also played an important role in why pitchers collapsed.

“[Diaz, take a breath. Why can’t I breathe?]”

“[No, it’s okay.]”

Diaz said she was okay, but I could see that her black face had turned white.

‘Racist bastard.’

‘I don’t want to hear that from Mr. Rossby.’

When she ignores Mr. Rossby’s words and looks at Diaz, she gasps, as if trying to show that she is okay.

“[I’m a little short of breath? Then it will stop.]”

“[Oh, no. I’m really fine.]”

I wanted to open my joint to get my mind back on track, but right now I’m in the middle of a game. When we were about to console Diaz with regret over that fact, the referee urged us on.

“Time is up.”

“[Diaz. Whether it’s defense or hitting, I’m behind you, so throw comfortably.]”

“[… I understand.]”

After the short timeout, the game resumes. Han Dong-sik is the 5th batter at bat. Since he was a left-handed slugger type outfielder who was good at pulling, he adjusted his defensive position to the right and waited.

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

“Strike!”

“Ball.”

As I waited, the count was three balls, one strike. The batter’s count has arrived. With one out and bases loaded. Now, not a single ball is allowed…

And Diaz’s fourth ball was thrown.

Ta-ah!

‘Oh, shit.’

Han Dong-sik’s bat swung in a three-ball situation. And the bat he swung with confidence in a situation where he could become a traitor if he hit it wrong,

-Waaaaa!!!!!!!

… A double hit was made that hit the fence directly.

Baek Jeong-jin quickly chases the ball and catches it.

“Back home! Back home!”

‘Mr. Rossby!’

‘Even the runner on second base went in.’

Home with a runner already on second base. But the runner on first base… !

Phut! Baek Jeong-jin’s throw lands in the glove. After receiving the throw, he quickly turns back, and when he takes his stance, he sees Park Cheol-young, who was the runner on first base, running towards home.

‘No more… !’

Already 2 points. The moment 3 points are awarded, today’s game is over. My instincts were speaking. And then he throws the ball toward home faster than expected.

-Ah…

And the silence of Gocheok Dome.

“… Out!”

The referee’s out call is heard and Baek Kyung-ho raises his mitt high. Although my throw was fast, Baek Kyung-ho blocked it with a veteran tag in a situation where it was almost the same timing.

“Good! “I blocked it!”

“Meng Hao! Sorry, it was good!”

“[Thanks. Thanks to you, I saved 1 point.]”

“[Now I have one out left, so please do me a favor.]”

“[… I understand.]”

Out count earned at home. Fortunately, Diaz was too lazy to miss that opportunity, and Shinra Triggers’ attack came to an end in the bottom of the 3rd inning with the remaining out count.

‘Is it 2:0?’

The score difference is 2 points. Normally, the score would have been overtaken with just one hit, but today’s opponent is Wonho. That too was the best arc. To be honest, I thought he would be a little shaken if he stole base after getting on base, but he didn’t shake at all. Did it get a little complicated from there?

‘… It won’t be easy, right?’

But it’s too early to give up. Because it was still the beginning of the 4th inning. Moreover, my at-bat definitely came back this inning.

‘Start with 1 point.’

The lead batter of this inning was Baek Jeong-jin, the second batter. Baek Jeong-jin, the leadoff hitter, and Ki Ki-joo, the hitter behind him, were good hitters, but it was difficult to expect them to get on base against Wonho today.

“Out!”

“Out!”

… And just as I expected, my at-bat came back with two outs and no runners.

‘Then, let’s go. Mr. Rossby.’

Now it’s time for me to show it. If you can catch up by 1 point as soon as you lose a point, today’s game is not over yet.

‘Don’t pretend to be a tycoon. Because it makes me vomit.’

‘… ‘Yes.’