episode_0189

“These bastards are becoming more and more blatant.”

Bottom of the 7th inning, Woo Kwan-hyung’s fourth batting order. Once again, Woo Kwan-hyung got on base with a walk, and Lee Soo-hyun clenched his teeth. People who don’t know much about baseball might think that the pitcher doesn’t have good control, but people who know a little bit about baseball might think that Hwasan’s pitchers are blatant enough to know that they are skipping Woo Gwan-hyeong to avoid setting records. It was.

Perfect!

The next batter, Boer, kicks the ball wide. And the batted ball failed to penetrate Jamsil’s wide outfield and fell helplessly into the outfielder’s glove.

The reason why Hwasan, who made up for one more run in the 7th inning, was able to blatantly ignore Woo Kwan-hyung was due to the poor performance of the next hitter, Boer. During the month of April, Boer’s OPS, which was still at 0.8, was gradually dropping, and his detailed indicators were getting worse, and in the last few games, he was not performing as well as a second-team hitter, let alone a mercenary hitter.

‘I have to make a decision.’

And Bohr’s at-bat this time completely exhausted Lee Soo-hyun’s patience. Anyway, with Woo Gwan-hyung as the designated hitter, there were enough outfielders.

‘The front line is also looking for replacement mercenaries, so I’ll send Boer to the 2nd Army and watch the progress.’

A sullen-looking Boer enters the dugout. However, Lee Soo-hyun’s eyes turned to Woo Gwan-hyeong, who was concentrating on the game with an expressionless face.

“Hyung Kwan.”

“Yes, director.”

“Are you okay?”

“What wouldn’t be okay? “There are enough walks.”

This embodiment of self-management did not look angry at all even though he noticed the Volcanic Falcons’ blatant restraint. That’s why Lee Soo-hyun was even more annoyed. But there was nothing much that could be done.

.

The top of the 8th inning started like that. AT’s bullpen revealed its weaknesses again, and the Volcanoes did not miss the opportunity.

[The Volcano Falcons tie this game! The score is now tied 6:6!]

Fortunately, Hwasan’s attack ended in the top of the 8th inning without allowing any more runs, but the AT Thunders, who had already lost momentum, were unable to score in the bottom of the 8th inning, and with the score tied, the Hwasan’s attack began in the top of the 9th.

A situation where the momentum of a volcano has increased. In order to break the momentum in this situation, director Lee Soo-hyun placed a river.

[Finishing pitcher Park Jin-hyuk comes up here. It is usually not easy to write a conclusion before an overtime game, but coach Lee Soo-hyun made a strong point.]

[Director Lee Soo-hyun also seems to have felt the need to reverse this atmosphere. Baseball is a battle of momentum, so if you get pushed back, you have to regain momentum, even if it means using irregular techniques like this.]

Finishing pitcher. An important position that can determine the team’s victory or defeat with one’s own hands. The pitcher who takes the mound in the 9th inning must have a colder heart than anyone else. However, AT Thunders closer Park Jin-hyuk was a pitcher who was far from having such a cold heart.

A heavy fastball that goes back and forth between the late 140s and early 150s. And a curveball that goes from 12 o’clock to 6 o’clock. A slider that is evaluated as having a large angle. Although he wasn’t lacking in talent to finish, Park Jin-hyuk had a big problem.

“Let’s block it once and then turn the tables!”

First baseman Choi Jin-cheol raises his voice and encourages the players. However, Park Jin-hyuk, who appeared in the 9th episode, did not hear Choi Jin-cheol’s encouragement.

‘Ha, why do we have to score more points in a game like this?’

I’ve been a closer for the AT Thunders for three years now, but I always felt like throwing up when I took the mound in these situations. Typical bird chest. Moreover, appearing on the mound in this situation, where a major senior record is at stake, rather than in a typical closing situation, made Park Jin-hyuk’s heart beat even faster.

But as a professional, I didn’t even want to get off the mound.

“senior! “It’s a volcano, so take it easy!”

Ji Maeng-ho’s words can be heard from behind. Although it was a burdensome situation, Park Jin-hyuk took a deep breath at the thought of a volcano.

‘Yes, the opponent is a volcano.’

There were still many hitters left to step up to the plate, such as mercenary hitter Ves, a player to watch out for in Hwasan, and Choi Si-woo, a young hitter with explosive potential. And excluding those hitters, the fact that most of the players would not even be able to sit on the AT Thunders’ bench made Park Jin-hyuk’s mind even more stable.

‘Let’s throw it comfortably. comfortable. The opponent is a lower-ranking batting lineup.’

And the first pitch you chose.

“strike!”

-done! Park Jin-hyuk hit the first pitch!!!

Park Jin-hyuk, who hit the first pitch, is trustworthy haha.

Park Jin-hyuk’s first pitch landed squarely in the strike zone. A pitcher who catches the first pitch will feel at ease. And Park Jin-hyuk was no exception.

“Strike~ out!”

Park Jin-hyuk showed good momentum and struck out the 7th batter. And the first pitch of the 8th batter, Park Jin-hyuk, headed toward the strike zone again.

Perfect!

Jinhyuk Park’s head automatically turned toward second base when he hit a well-hit ball.

[Kim Seung-sik! Pull the first pitch! A well-hit ball! Toward second base!]

And from there, Ji Maeng-ho came out with animal-like speed and retrieved the ball. Park Jin-hyuk screamed involuntarily as he saw a large man close to 190cm throw his body and catch him.

“nice!”

And although he hesitated slightly, the ball that came out of Ji Maeng-ho’s glove headed toward the first base mitt.

“out!”

Concise out.

“Whew, I almost got screwed.”

“Meng Hao, your defense was good.”

“Senior, please send it my way.”

Park Jin-hyuk took off his hat and expressed his gratitude at the words of his friendly junior. Is it because he safely got the 7th and 8th batters out? Park Jin-hyuk’s tension eased.

‘Is there only 9 left?’

-9th batter, pinch hitter, Jang Dae-san.

‘Mt. Jangdae?’

And in that situation, the Volcanoes’ bench came in as a pinch hitter. Jangdaesan Mountain. A promising military veteran from Hwasan. A left-handed hitter with punching power. Although his contact and defense skills were poor and he was not included in the lineup, he was a hitter whose power was considered to be poor.

And after catching two batters and feeling relaxed, Park Jin-hyuk’s fastball flew into the middle of the strike zone.

Ta – evil!

The sound of the ball splitting was heard and it began to fly at incredible speed.

[Right fielder! Right field! Right field! Stop walking! The Volcano Falcons turn this game around! The main character is pinch hitter Jang Tae-san! 7:6! The Volcano Falcons take a one-point lead! In the top of the 9th inning, we start to lead this game for the first time!]

“No, senior, I told you to send it in my direction, so didn’t you send it too high?”

Ji Maeng-ho’s shouting did not reach Park Jin-hyuk’s ears. When I came off the mound without even knowing how the inning ended, the score gap had widened to 8:6.

*

“Hey, gather around!”

At Coach Lee Soo-hyun’s words, all AT players gathered.

“It’s 2 points, but our batting lineup is good. Guardian. You know you’re the leadoff hitter, right? You have to keep the momentum going. “You can do it, right?”

“Just leave it to me.”

“okay. Meng Hao, you know without saying anything else, right?”

The director’s gaze turned towards me.

“As long as I don’t filter anything, I can be confident at any time.”

“okay. Sangju and Jincheol also believe in it. And Gwan-hyung.”

“Yes, director.”

“Be prepared, you might get a chance. Well, it would be nice if we could filter that out as well, but 3,000 hits won’t disappear just because we hit tomorrow. As much as possible as a team, okay?”

“All right.”

“If you missed swinging twice in a row, you wouldn’t have lost the sense of hitting, right?”

“It’s been 22 years since I debuted.”

“Haha, yes. Believe.”

Director Lee Soo-hyun laughs out loud at Woo Kwan-hyung’s joke.

“now. I won’t be a burden to other kids. Let’s win today and go. “You can do it, right?”

“You can!”

“invincibility!”

“AT!”

After shouting the team’s slogan, we prepared to attack the bottom of the 9th inning. First batter Kim Su-ho slowly walked to the plate.

‘It’s Suho Daejeon.’

Kim Su-ho, our team’s reliable No. 1 hitter, and Hwasan’s closer Shin Su-ho. A match between two players with the same name. And the one who laughed was Kim Su-ho, who had risen to the ranks of veterans.

-Waaa!!!!!

-Kim Su-ho! Kim Soo-ho!

The atmosphere in Jamsil, which had been depressed by Kim Soo-ho’s double, immediately heated up. Kim Su-ho’s wonderful ceremony heads to the dugout. And Kim Su-ho, who replaces the pinch runner. He had a rare wide smile on his face, as if he was satisfied that he had completed his mission.

‘Huh, is it my car now?’

I was just waiting for this moment. If you hit a home run here, the score will be immediately tied. It was disappointing that it wasn’t a comeback home run, but the tying home run in the bottom of the 9th inning had a huge impact, so it could steal the spotlight from Woo Kwan-hyung to some extent.

When I thought about that, my heart pounded.

‘wait. Hehehe.’

I re-armed my mind and went to bat determined to hit a home run no matter what. Point to the left fence with the bat. A pre-announced home run sign that everyone knows. At my sign, the crowd in Jamsil started shouting my name louder.

-Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maengho! Ji Maengho!

Wow, it tastes like this.

“It was intentional.”

At that time, a sound like a thunderbolt was heard from behind.

“… yes?”

“What are you doing? “I’m not walking.”

“Win… , I have to… .”

“What are you talking about? “Why am I competing with you when first base is empty?”

“Walk quickly.”

“ah… .”

“Why don’t you go quickly?”

Even the referee urged me. Fuck… . I even hit a predicted home run… . Why did Kim Su-ho hit a double? .