Chapter 680 – Episode 667. Kim Won-Ho, Come Out!
-The second round of semi-PO battles between AT with powerful firepower and Silla with balanced offense and defense. Preview
The team with good condition wins…
Just kidding, haha, let me give you a preview of the second game. I’ll use it comfortably for now
…
Next is the starting matchup.
First, AT announced veteran left-hander Jang Yoon, and Silla announced the first foreign starter, Barron, as the starting pitcher. If you look at the records, Barron is good. … However, the author thinks that this may be the key since Jang Yoon has good compatibility with Silla’s hitters.
Most of Silla’s hitters are of the rifle type, with the top batting line consisting of Kim Hwan-young, Lee Eun-chong, and Park Cheol-young, and the batting line centering around the 4th hitter with one hit named Lev. If you look at Silla’s batting line, except for Lev, no hitter has more than 20 home runs. No one hit. Fly ball type pitchers are usually weak against home run hitters who fly the ball, but this means that Silla does not have many such hitters…
Moreover, although he was blocked by Kim Won-ho yesterday, AT’s batting lineup is the highest level of all time, so the question is whether Barron can stop it. Beren’s average speed is 146.8, and when in good condition, he throws in the mid-150s. Except for the two-seamer four-seamer, his pitches are similar to Kim Won-ho’s, with slider, splitter, and curve. However, the problem is how AT, who came against Kim Won-ho, will view Barron’s ball.
…
It goes without saying that if Barron blocks AT’s batting lineup, Silla will likely win, but the truth is that unless they are at the level of Kim Won-ho, they cannot be stopped.
Silla has the edge in the starting matchup, but considering the batting lineup, do you think AT is stronger?
…
… Lastly, I hope that whoever wins, they go up by 5 hahas. The odds are against AT because they gave up 1 point yesterday, but if it were me, I would bet on AT. Lastly, I’ll make a bet too, so please help me just once!
┗ㅋㅋㅋ This guy is a fan of Hyunseong
┗Please, whoever wins, 5 full
┗Can’t it just is Kim Won-ho in the 2nd game and Kim Won-ho in the 3rd game?
┗┗Are you Moon Ki-taek?
┗┗Even Chutaek won’t go on like thisㅡ
┗But I’m a little worried. Barron has a similar style to Wonho, so I didn’t stick with him during the season.
┗┗But why added it this time?
┗┗First of all, it’s a one-two punch, so regardless of the type, I have to put the two best guys together haha
┗Lose, win, win, let’s go!!!!
*
“Ball.”
Beren’s velocity today is around 152-3. Maybe it’s because I saw Wonho’s ball yesterday, but it was the kind of ball that was perfect for hitting. … And it wasn’t just me; other batters’ bats today were quite light. Enough to create chances for 1st and 3rd bases starting from the 1st inning.
Moreover, the ball thrown this time was near the edge of the zone. Throwing a ball like this is…
‘Oh, you’re competing? 1 company, 1, 3 runs.’
It means to compete with me!
The opportunity came in the top of the first inning with one out and runners on first and third base. Since there was one empty base, there wasn’t much reason to compete with me, but I was a little thankful for the guy who showed his will to compete.
‘Going in after striking out at the end yesterday had an effect.’
Even in the game against Charlotte, at the end of the first game, I was forced to strike out and return to the dugout.
It didn’t have much effect back then, so I was a little worried this time, but the score gap was wide anyway and there were no runners, so even if I hit a home run, I could only make up one run, so I struck out in my last at-bat yesterday.
But fortunately, it seemed to be quite effective this time. They challenged me on 1st and 3rd bases with 1 out.
‘Then, I will eat well.’
-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!
I can hear the fans chanting my name. There is only one thing the fans want from me.
‘It’s a slider.’
‘Okay.’
And I was fully prepared to satisfy the expectations of those fans.
‘… Outside!’
The moment his ball was thrown, I thought it would go outside, so I put out the bat.
This guy’s ball started to fall as he thought about it…
Perfect!
My hand felt like it didn’t hit the sweet spot exactly, and the sound at impact wasn’t that lively either. But I just followed through and pulled his ball.
-Wow!!!
As the ball floats high, you can hear the cheers of the audience full of anticipation.
‘… It’s a bit ambiguous, isn’t it?’
The runners, like me, probably had a hard time judging, so they waited near the base to see where the batted ball was going. But it didn’t take that long. It took a bit of time to hit the ball, but it landed where I wanted,
-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!
The shouts soon turn into my name.
‘Fuck, this is it.’
Three runs from the top of the first inning.
‘Well, if it’s like this, there’s nothing to worry about today, right?’
And what was more pleasant than that home run was the fact that at this rate, we wouldn’t have to worry about our batting lineup today.
‘One strength is really… As expected, it’s like a gorilla baby.’
‘It’s all thanks to Mr. Rossby.’
After lightly listening to Mr. Rossby’s ‘praise’, I walked around and arrived at the home, where the seniors who were waiting greeted me.
“Meng Hao, it was good.”
“Senior Jincheol. That bastard is a dick, so take it easy. Comfortably.”
“… I got it.”
After giving advice to senior Jincheol, who was the next hitter, I entered the dugout.
“Nice!”
“Okay, let’s take it easy today!”
Of course the atmosphere in the dugout was good,
“… Thank you, Meng Hao.”
“Hey, what is this? “Senior, I’ll give you a chance to win even if you only get real quals today.”
“Okay.”
Senior Jang Yoon, today’s starting pitcher, also looked bright. Although Jang Yoon is not the same as usual, I still feel stable because he is not the type to give up a lot of goals like that guy Diaz did yesterday.
“Out!”
… Although senior Jincheol was out. Anyway, the score is 3 points. When you think that this is enough and are about to pack your gloves,
‘Well, giving one more point is greedy… ‘
Ta – Aak!
‘… ‘How?’
A cheerful sound was heard from the ground. The source of the sound is Seongtae-hyung’s bat. As we follow the trajectory of the white object cutting through the sky of the dome stadium, the ball disappears behind the central wall.
“And?! Seongtae Yoon, what are you doing?”
“Good! I’m in a good mood!”
“Good swing! Good swing!”
‘I’m sure it’s trustworthy except for Charlotte.’
So we were able to end the first inning thanks to my three runs and Seongtae’s solo home run,
“Out!”
“Strike! Out!”
“Out!”
Senior Jang Yoon showed good condition and easily dealt with three batters.
‘Yes, this is our team. Yesterday, that bastard Wonho was strange.’
As expected, I didn’t think we would lose today’s game.
*
[… In the top of the third inning, the leadoff hitter is Ji Maeng-ho. Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball! High! … Ah! It is caught in the deepest part of Gocheok. One out.]
[Ji Maeng-ho’s hit was caught, but it was a very good hit, right? Even though Ki-Gi Joo hit a double play in the previous inning, he hit the ball very well, right? It might be a bit difficult for Beren today.]
[… You hit it! Choi Jin-cheol gets on base with one out! … Seongtae Yoon’s batted ball! It falls in front of right field! 1 out, 1st and 2nd bases! … Kim Sang-min’s hit! Runner on second base goes home! Score 5:0! AT Thunders run away with one more point!]
….
[… Game over! AT Thunders balance the series with a 13-4 win!]
[Today, AT Thunders’ batting line showed exactly what was expected. At the center of it all was the 4th hitter Ji Maeng-ho’s performance of 2 hits in 3 at-bats, 1 home run, 4 runs, and 5 RBIs.]
[In addition to the 2 walks, it was the same as Ji Maeng-ho’s usual behavior, right? Now, let’s listen to an interview with Ji Maeng-ho, who was selected as the MVP of the second game and was involved in a total of 9 points. Hello…]
*
[Silla Triggers and AT Thunders, AT Thunders and Shilla Triggers. Game 3 of the semi-playoffs held in Jamsil. A really fierce match is expected today, right?]
[Yes. Today’s match is scheduled to be a match between Bellingham and Batista…]
When I turned on the TV according to the game time, I heard the familiar voice of the broadcaster. Wonho was sitting on the sofa and quietly watching.
Normally, Wonho would have stayed in the dugout, or even in Seoul, but for the Jamsil game, he would have stayed at the away hotel, but the reason why he was sitting in the living room of his house watching TV was simple.
This was because Wonho’s starting pitch could be tomorrow, so the coaches took care to allow Wonho to prepare for the game in the most comfortable environment possible.
And, the reason why Wonho could pitch tomorrow was also simple.
The reason was that tomorrow’s game could be the team’s last game. If they lost by today, the team would have lost twice, and there was a high possibility that the 4th game would be the last game.
The AT Thunders’ momentum was so strong that they attacked Behren, the starter in the second game, regardless of their loss in the first game, and the pitcher pitching today was not a pitcher who could be considered as good a pitcher as he was.
However, AT’s starter is Bellingham, who is no different from the first starter. Although Lim Jun-hoo was better on record, Bellingham was a veteran who had been AT’s starter for several years, and was a pitcher who performed well in fall baseball games except for the first fall baseball game.
The team’s selection was worse than the second game, and the opposing team’s selection was better than the second game. Additionally, the AT Thunders have an advantage in batting lineup. If things continued like this, there was a high probability of losing twice.
Wonho also knew this, so he had said that if he lost this game, he would pitch in Game 4.
He would be starting after three days of rest, but he didn’t want to leave the team without finally getting past the semi-playoff mark. Wonho knew that if he failed to pitch in a game, he would regret it for the rest of his life.
‘We should win today…’
Of course, he was prepared, but he didn’t feel like pitching in Game 4. If he was to come out as a starter and face Meng Hao, he wanted to do so in his best condition, not pitch after three days of rest.
But why does it feel cheap?
Even before the game begins in earnest, a feeling of anxiety creeps in. The team’s attack in the top of the first inning was a three-way retreat.
‘Bellingham… ‘You look like you’re in good condition?’
It’s a shame, but Bellingham looked good today. And then came the AT Thunders attack.
[… Ji Maeng-ho’s batted ball is high! Far! But Jamsil blocks it! The inning ends with a fly out to right field!]
[If it wasn’t Jamsil, it would have passed at all other stadiums, right?]
Fortunately, the crisis with 2 outs and 1st base ended with no runs. Luck brought about by many reasons, including Jamsil’s wide stadium and wind direction.
“Phew…”
Wonho breathed a sigh of relief at that luck, but…,
… The luck ended there.
[… Ji Maeng-ho’s second at-bat. … Ah! Let’s go! Ji Maeng-ho’s two-run! Score 2:1! AT Thunders comeback with two runs! The main character is smart again this time!]
[… Runners on 1st and 3rd base. At bat is Ji Maeng-ho, who hit a home run in the previous at-bat. … Ji Maengho! First pitch hit! This batted ball! It’s big! It’s big! A batted ball hits the electric sign and falls! Ji Maeng-ho’s consecutive home runs! Score 5:1!]
Ji Maeng-ho, who hit a big fly in his first at-bat, seemed to have gotten the hang of it and set the tone for the game by hitting home runs in succession.
[Game ends. As we bring you the news that AT Thunders won Game 3 with a score of 8:3…]
In the end, the team was unable to overturn the score difference and lost. The ominous feeling I felt before the game started was correct.
[Then, let’s meet Ji Maeng-ho, who was selected as the MVP of Game 3 today after hitting 2 home runs and 5 RBIs.]
And on the TV that was turned on, an interview with Maeng Ho, who had a great performance today with 2 home runs, was played. Although he didn’t have to watch it, Wonho didn’t turn off the TV. Because he was a little curious about what the guy would say.
[Hello. This is Ji Maeng-ho.]
Meng Hao’s tone seems confident. Normally, he would have applauded when his friend performed well, but Wonho couldn’t applaud willingly. Because I had to compete with this ruthless guy tomorrow.
When he thought about having to face that guy again, he even trembled slightly as he remembered the look in his eyes before he hit the home run in Game 1.
[First, starting from the situation where I hit my first home run today… … Then, finally, please say something about tomorrow’s game.]
However, the tremors soon subsided.
[Hmm… Is it Wonho? Are you watching? There will be a game tomorrow, right? Well, we’ll win whether you show up or not, but wouldn’t it be a little more fun if you show up? Make me have some fun.]
After watching the interview of my cheeky friend, I felt like pressing his high nose.
‘Tomorrow will be my last fight with you in Korea, right? Okay, let’s have some fun together. Just like in the first game, I will win tomorrow too.’