episode_0288

Kim Hyun-sik, the left-handed ace of Hancheol and a pitcher who has consistently achieved ten wins in recent years, possessed a primary arsenal of changeups and curves that disrupted hitters’ timing, along with top-notch control skills evaluated as the best in the country. Particularly, fans of AT often trembled at the name Kim Hyun-sik, as he had been known as a pitcher with a high reputation as an “AT killer” in recent years.

Due to the Thunderz’s lineup heavily favoring left-handed batters, there was no suitable hitter to face Kim Hyun-sik. Even the team’s best left-handed batters, Kim Su-ho and Woo Gwan-hyeong, were weak against Kim Hyun-sik, leaving them with no effective strategy to counter him. Despite being a formidable force against AT, with half of his salary rumored to come from AT, this season was different.

With the addition of strong right-handed batters like Na and Choi Jin-cheol, along with the newly acquired Gisangju, Kim Hyun-sik found himself particularly vulnerable to us this season. Gisangju, despite being a left-handed batter, managed to handle Kim Hyun-sik quite well, making Kim Hyun-sik notably weaker against us this season.

Especially since Kim Hyun-sik’s main weapons, the curveball and changeup, were ineffective against me, this season saw Kim Hyun-sik unable to turn the game around.

Even Hancheol’s coaching staff noticed this fact and went as far as adjusting the rotation on days when we played against them.

However, with the playoffs looming and rotation adjustments unavoidable, it was announced that Kim Hyun-sik would be the starting pitcher for the second game.

“…So, seniors, you can act as you did yesterday. I’ll carry today. But if you act the same way in the third game, I’ll get mad, okay?”

“If the youngest gets mad at the seniors, the world must have changed for the better.”

“This kid is good at baseball but unlucky.”

“Well, yesterday Maengho carried us. Today, let’s step up a bit ourselves.”

Although the seniors playfully teased me about my declaration to carry the team, there seemed to be an underlying trust in me.

“All right, attention! The game is about to start, so stop chatting and come out.”

“Got it.”

Following the coach’s instructions, I emerged from the dugout, greeted by the autumn sunlight and stands filled with enthusiastic fans.

“Wasn’t it a full house yesterday too?”

I heard that since I participated in the Asian Games, there were more packed days at Jamsil than empty ones, indicating how much the fans were anticipating our autumn baseball.

“I shouldn’t disappoint those fans by showing them the same poor performance as yesterday.”

Bellington’s pitches looked quite promising during practice. And facing me was none other than Kim Hyun-sik, who was no different from my target practice. Today’s game felt quite good.

“All right, let’s do this.”

Starting with a positive feeling, the first inning began,

Thunk!

“Center!”

Thud!

“Second!”

Bellington easily dealt with the first and second batters.

Thwack!

“It’s okay, it’s okay! Two outs. Let’s just get one batter out!”

“Bases loaded, ball.”

Although there were some tense moments giving hits and walks to the third batter, Juseungcheol, and the fourth batter, Lee Yong-gi,

“Swing and a miss, strikeout!”

He finished the first inning without allowing any runs after striking out the fifth batter, Esteban.

“The pitch looks good, Bellington?”

“Thanks. Counting on you today as well.”

“Yeah, just trust me.”

Bellington was quite reserved, so he didn’t say such things often. However, it seemed like today’s game held special significance for him.

“Well, he’s spent three or four years in Korea now without ever making it to the postseason, so it makes sense.”

If he were a quirky character like Krongs, he might have enjoyed resting in the fall, but Bellington, like a seasoned mercenary, had adapted well to Korea.

“Phew, I can do this. I can do this.”

…He was a bit too well-adjusted, almost behaving slightly nervously like a Korean player, but thankfully, there was no visible struggle in his pitching form.

The tense pitcher usually performs well once a score is secured, but… We need to score quickly.

And the 1st inning attack began. Kim Hyun-sik displayed precise pitching as he secured the outs. Perhaps due to autumn baseball, Kim Hyun-sik felt like he was giving his all from the first inning.

Thwack!

But we had our leadoff hitter. Despite struggling near the fence yesterday, he managed to hit a big ball against Kim Hyun-sik’s slow curveball.

The leadoff hitter’s hit soared far and wide, landing in an unreachable spot for the outfielders. A clean double splitting the center field.

“Nice!”

I couldn’t help but admire that textbook double.

‘Impressive.’

‘Of course, it’s great. We’re in scoring position.’

“Heh heh. Feels good.”

Why is he smiling so wryly?

“Mang-ho, ready?”

“Were you waiting for me?”

As I stepped up to bat, Lee Yong-gi greeted me warmly.

“If only you had returned to the plate yesterday, you would have hit one. Kavi. Now go.”

“What?”

“Walk.”

With Lee Yong-gi’s instruction to walk, I understood why Rossby smiled wryly. There was no reason not to walk with two outs and a runner on second. It wasn’t a time to celebrate the leadoff hitter reaching second; it was a less than ideal situation.

“What are you doing? Walk.”

The umpire gestured for me to walk quickly.

“Damn… Ugh…, but the next batter is Jin-cheol senior…”

When our team’s batting lineup was silent overall, the player who scored a run despite my help was Choi Jin-cheol. His skill was unquestionable.

“Please. Score first and let’s relax. Senior!”

Was it thanks to my earnest prayer that…

Thud!

Choi Jin-cheol’s hit elegantly passed the shortstop’s glove and landed in front of the left fielder. With two outs, the leadoff hitter had already set his sights on home plate. And Kim Dong-jin’s throw was also heading home.

‘The timing…!’

Considering Kim Dong-jin’s strong shoulder and the leadoff hitter’s speed, the timing at home was crucial. As I reached third base, a battle for a run was unfolding at home plate.

“Safe!”

And the result was safe.

-Choi Jin-cheol! Choi Jin-cheol! Choi Jin-cheol!

The fans at Jamsil Stadium began chanting Choi Jin-cheol’s name.

“Yeah, does it look like the second-ranked home run hitter Jin-cheol senior is messing around? How dare you walk me?”

“…I hear you.”

Ignoring Han Cheol’s third baseman’s words, brushing off the dirt on my uniform, I waited for the next batter, and once again, Jamsil Stadium reverberated. The protagonist who shook Jamsil was AT’s heart, Woo Gwan-hyung. Despite hitting into a double play in yesterday’s game, he seemed in good enough condition to hit a double to drive in additional runs.

“Please, Gwan-hyung senior. Just one more here!”

Thanks to today’s effective prayers, as I prayed again…

Thwack!

Woo Gwan-hyung’s hit flew at an ideal angle.

‘It’s…?’

However, the ball weakly dropped in front of the fence. It was caught right before crossing the fence, deep in Jamsil.

“Ah… If only I were a day younger…”

Watching that hit with a sigh, I could only swallow my regret and return to the dugout.

‘But still, scoring first is fortunate. Bellingham will find solace in this.’

*

“Geez, the ball looks fierce, doesn’t it?”

“Why is Bellingham suddenly acting up? He was fine during the season.”

Before we knew it, the AT and Han Cheol’s playoff second game was approaching the middle of the game. As the 5th inning began, the score difference between the two teams was three runs. In the 3rd inning, AT Thunderz led with Ji Maeng-ho’s 2-run double.

“If we fall further behind, today’s game will be tough…”

[An Si-hoon’s surprise bunt! Heading for third base! Kim Su-ho catches the ball and heads to first base! To first base! Oh! Song-gu is late. An Si-hoon’s leadoff hitter reaches base!]

The 9th batter, An Si-hoon, pierced through AT’s defense with a surprise bunt, breaking the stalemate situation and reaching base.

“An Si-hoon! An Si-hoon! An Si-hoon!”

Han Cheol’s fans cheered An Si-hoon’s name with joyous voices,

“Oh, damn! An Si-hoon again?”

AT’s fans launched curses. These curses held deeper sincerity than usual because of a simple reason: If asked to pick the most disliked player from Han Cheol, all fans would choose An Si-hoon. He had been a thorn in AT’s side, tormenting them with his senseful plays since his rookie days, blossoming his skills since Han Cheol Grizzlies’ repeat championship 15 years ago, showcasing his unique baseball IQ to trouble AT Thunderz, from baserunning to defense, even igniting his bat against AT. While his physical prowess might not be at its peak due to age, his senseful play had become more seasoned.

“Hah, wasn’t even thinking about it.”

To attempt a surprise bunt during that brief moment when everyone was off guard. An Si-hoon went out to first base, starting to hassle Belingham.

“That slowpoke is being a nuisance…”

“Belingham! Focus on the batter, not the runner!”

While Belingham was preoccupied with the runner on first, catcher Jung Yoon-cheol noticed this and signaled him to concentrate on the batter. Though Belingham nodded with his usual poker face, his slightly furrowed brow indicated his current state.

“Right, let’s focus on the batter. It’s a 3-run lead anyway.”

Thus, Belingham continued his battle with the leadoff batter Kim Dong-jin, and before they knew it, the count stood at two strikes and two balls.

“I’ll strike him out with this pitch!”

As Belingham’s winning shot headed towards the strike zone,

“Huh? He’s running!”

An Si-hoon started running, unleashing a strategy no one else had imagined.

Thwack!

Last season’s stolen base king, Han Cheol’s leadoff batter Kim Dong-jin, laid down a bunt while keeping the bat low, attempting a bunt after two strikes.

“Oh! Kim Dong-jin attempts a three-bunt!”

After two strikes, attempting a bunt meant if the ball went foul, it would result in an out, making it a risky move few players or coaches would dare. However, Han Cheol’s coach believed in Kim Dong-jin’s bunting skills, hence the bold move.

“…!”

Given the unexpected nature of the bunt, AT’s infielders hesitated for a moment. Then, Belingham, closest to the ball, snapped back to attention and sprinted towards the hit.

“Get it!”