episode_0121

“Hey, come to your senses! “The batters gave up 7 runs, so we have to go at least 5 innings!”

“Ah yes. sorry!”

“You shouldn’t be sorry, you should do better. is not it? Are you going to lose today like yesterday?”

“no!”

“okay. “Let’s just stop this inning.”

Lim Jun-hoo’s performance today against the Hancheol Grizzlies’ Kangta-seon was 4 runs in 4 innings. Under normal circumstances, the performance would have been met with immediate criticism, but today AT’s batting lineup was like an active volcano on fire. AT’s dugout wasn’t in that much of a hurry as they gave up 7 runs in 4 innings and put the opposing starting pitcher in a tough situation.

Coach Sands’ management of today’s game was simple. Since it would have been a waste of entry to leave a starting pitcher who would not be used in the entry, the starting pitchers’ spots would be filled with bullpens, and then Sunday’s game would be operated as a bullpen day. And starting Tuesday, the regular entries will be made by replacing the starting pitchers one by one.

Using Lim Jun-hoo as a starter today was also part of the bullpen day. However, Lim Jun-hoo’s stamina was better than expected, and the batting lineup unexpectedly ignited and scored a big score.

“[Coach, then, are you planning on leaving Lim Jun-hoo in charge of the 5th episode?]”

“[Okay, as long as you’re ahead, there’s no need to change.]”

Manager Sands thought that Lim Jun-hoo’s responsible innings would be 3 innings, but since he was ahead like this, he did not want to replace the starting pitcher who was throwing energetically.

“[But I will prepare the bullpen.]”

“[good. But if possible, I would like to give him his first win.]”

“[Haha, I hope so too. Young players grow when they have opportunities like this.]”

Moreover, if he gets his first win in his first game since his debut, this young player could grow even bigger in the future. As the sport of baseball is a sport of records, it is common for each of these records to affect a player’s performance, and there are often cases where players step up with confidence after achieving a record.

If he can save just one inning, he can get his first win in his debut game. AT Thunders coach Sands decided to put Lim Jun-hoo on the mound again in the bottom of the fifth inning to give the rookie his first win.

“Hey, are you sure you trained properly?”

Meng Hao, who was the only classmate in the entry and who had captured the coach’s heart with yesterday’s game, approached Lim Jun-hoo with a complex expression.

“Then you must have played?”

Sharp words came out of Junhu’s mouth out of envy, but since he was a starting pitcher, Mengho did not refute but answered softly.

“I thought we were having fun because every time we met, we talked about fucking sex.”

“Ha, I don’t know because I don’t have a brother, but training during spring camp was no joke.”

“Then just block one inning. “I saw the article yesterday, and it tasted like mulberry.”

An article I found right after the game ended. Ji Maeng-ho, a rookie out of high school who became the second player in history to hit a home run in his debut at-bat. That feeling of pleasure that arises when you see the title. Meng Hao truly hoped that his classmate would experience the same pleasure he felt.

“okay. “Please block second base.”

“Just trust your brother, brat.”

Then came the bottom of the 5th inning. Perhaps motivated by the idea that he could become a winning pitcher after just one inning, Lim Jun-hoo’s ball found the strike zone in an amazing way.

[Swing strike! Lim Jun-hoo creates his third strikeout! This is a ball that stands out with boldness that makes it hard to believe that he is a rookie making his debut this season! Now one out.]

[and. The rookies are definitely showing very good performances this year. There were a lot of rumors that good players like Ji Maeng-ho, WBC player Jang Woo-joo, and Kim Won-ho would debut this season on the same team. It is showing results that live up to the rumors.]

“Hi, Mr. “It’s not a ball you can’t hit, but it’s a bit tricky.”

“It’s definitely difficult to distinguish between a fastball and a changeup.”

“But 4 points wasn’t a lot?”

“… Oh, I’m sorry.”

“Hey, Hyunsik, there are days like that. How long is your winning streak now? Was it 9 straight wins against AT? “It’s time to break.”

“that’s right. We had 9 consecutive wins and 9 moves, so we couldn’t even get a win. Just do well from the next game.”

Even when they were down by 3 points in the 5th inning, the atmosphere in the Grizzlies’ dugout was not that dark. Because I was confident that I could beat AT Thunders at any time.

“You guys! Are you here to play? “I’m losing, can you see my teeth?”

“no!”

“Okay, if you’re not here to play, play baseball. If that bastard doesn’t get off this inning, it’s a special hit today. okay?”

“yes!”

Moreover, the coach of the Hancheol Grizzlies, Park Dae-hoon, is a famous coach who led the team to several championships with his unique charisma during his long reign at the company. Even though the team members were full of confidence, they were keeping the team’s atmosphere centered so that it did not go too far.

“Coach, but I don’t think you heard it because even the standby hitter is out now… ?”

“Bitch, so you should cheer hard! If those bastards can’t hit, then you guys are hitting special too. Algan?”

“All right!”

“Taekyung! Get one hit!”

“Fighting Taekyung Lee!”

[#9 batter, Lee Tae-kyung, comes to bat. Lee Tae-kyung is starting in place of Joo Seung-cheol, who is out due to injury, but he is performing well, right?]

[This is a player who did his part well yesterday, hitting 2 hits in 4 at-bats. As the number 9 hitter, he is very good at making connections.]

[The first pitch is a ball. Taekyung Lee picks this ball.]

“Hey, fuck with confidence!”

Hearing the sound coming from behind, Lim Jun-hoo glanced towards the shortstop.

‘Oh, it’s so fucking loud, damn.’

Lim Jun-hoo also wanted to strike with confidence. However, the speed shown on the electronic display board is 141km/h. Drive into the strike zone with this kind of velocity? It was impossible. Even when the score was 145-6 in the early part of the game, it was suicidal for Hancheol’s batters to hit such a restricted ball in the zone.

‘Four seamer?’

Lim Jun-hoo shook his head at the catcher’s request. Four-seamer is not enough right now. We need to use more breaking balls to get ground balls or missed swings.

‘Can’t I do a change-up?’

‘I threw too many changeups from the last inning. The ball that hit the home run last inning was also a changeup!’

Through the catcher’s mask, there is a look in his eyes that looks like he is going to kill himself. However, it is dangerous to throw the ball as the catcher requests. My senses were warning me so.

‘under… . Then a slider.’

‘All right.’

Although the slider was less perfect, it was still much better than the four-seamer, which had less velocity. Lim Jun-hoo nodded and prepared the slider.

Ta – evil!

[ah! I hit it. This batted ball passes through the infield!]

[It was a very dangerous ball now, wasn’t it? The slider didn’t bend and there was a misfire, and Lee Tae-kyung should have passed this ball over the fence, but I think his reaction was a little late because he didn’t throw the slider a few times today.]

[Now, with one out and 1st base, Hancheol’s number 1 hitter Kim Dong-jin comes to the plate. And catcher Jeong Yun-cheol goes on the mound.]

“hey! I don’t like this ball, I don’t like that ball either. And the ball you throw is that kind of misfire? “Are you kidding me?”

“sorry.”

“If you can’t do it, come down. “It seems like the coach keeps posting that he will keep the records, but for me, the team’s victory is more important.”

“… You can.”

Lim Jun-hoo’s voice saying that he could do it began to creep in. What was needed now was encouragement for the young player, but Jeong Yun-cheol was not a person with enough mental space to give such consideration.

Jeong Yun-cheol’s heart was already dry as he had never been invited to a fall baseball game in 18 years since his debut in 2006. Amidst continued criticism and ridicule, all Jeong Yun-cheol wants is victory. Even though there were only two games played, Jeong Yun-cheol knew how important this one win was.

There were several seasons where we failed to advance to fall baseball by one game.

“Junhoo. Come to your senses and do it.”

“Yes, yes.”

“okay. Let’s do our best.”

As Jeong Yun-cheol led his large body and walked back to the back of home plate, Lim Jun-hoo let out a sigh that he had been holding in.

‘Ha, every time I follow the lead and throw, I get hit so hard, so what are you telling me to do?’

And the batter who came to bat was Kim Dong-jin, a senior from his high school. Even though he was a guy who liked girls a bit, Lim Jun-hoo knew that he was more serious than anyone else when it came to playing baseball, so I started to feel more nervous.

‘Fuck, it’s Dongjin hyung here… .’

A battle that is already lost from within.

[Kim Dong-jin’s surprise bunt! It was a bold strategy from the first pitch. It’s impossible to pick up the catcher’s ball and get to second base! Throw to first base, throw to first base! First baseman bore, ball, spilled the ball! The second baseman ran and caught the ball, but the runners were already on second and third base! A fatal mistake is made here!]

[ah… . I was a little nervous about the catcher throwing the ball, but at this rate, the first baseman should have caught it… . I am very disappointed with AT Thunder. There are a lot of good players, but this team always lacks a little bit of detail, right? It’s so sad.]

As irregularities were added to the fight, the atmosphere of the game slowly began to become mysterious. And the AT Thunders dugout, sensing the atmosphere, also made a decision.

“[Director, I guess it won’t work, right?]”

“[Uhm… . Prepare the next pitcher.]”

One big hit would tie the score. Records are important, but the team’s victory is more important.

[ah… . It seems like the pitcher change is a bit late, right? Actually, it seemed better to have another pitcher come up this inning… .]

[The new pitcher on the mound is AT Thunders left-handed pitcher Woojin Lee. Last season, he recorded 17 holds.]

[Pitcher Woojin Lee is coming up. It’s a little late, but it’s a good choice, right? Since both No. 2 hitter An Si-Hwon and No. 3 hitter Kim Jeong-hyun are left-handed hitters, left-handed pitcher Lee Woo-jin seems like a good choice.]

Perfect!

[An Si-Hwon’s outfield fly! Follow 1 point. Now the score is 7:5!]

Ta – evil!

[Kim Jeong-hyun’s timely hit! Runners are safe at home! The batter and runner go all the way to second base! 7:6! Grizzlies won’t break down all season long! The Hancheol Grizzlies are following one point at a time! Now at the plate is Lee Yong-gi, yesterday’s multi-home run hero. Oh, and the AT Thunders pitching coach is on the mound holding the ball. It looks like they are preparing to replace the pitcher again.]

Perfect!

[Lee Yong-gi’s first pitch hit! The game is back to square one! 7:7! The Hancheol Grizzlies with great potential! It doesn’t go away easily either! The game starts again now! In the bottom of the 5th inning, the Hancheol Grizzlies tie the score!]

AT’s batting lineup was on fire, but AT’s mound was exploding.