episode_0303

[As expected, the game is progressing as a pitching battle since the aces of both teams are facing off. In the top of the 6th inning, the score is 2:1. Austin Webb is still on the mound for UG. The leadoff batter is Gisangju.]

[It’s turning into a tight pitching battle as the aces of both teams face off. Personally, when I saw AT’s destructive batting lineup during this postseason, I thought they might score a lot and win, but it’s still Austin Webb. He’s effectively shutting down AT’s lineup.]

[Gisangju’s record for today is 0 hits in 2 at-bats. Will he be able to get on base in his third at-bat… The first pitch is a ball.]

“I can see it now. The velocity seems lower than the first at-bat.”

Watching Webb’s pitch aimed at his body, Gisangju felt a slight surge of confidence. In the first inning, there was a sense that Webb’s control had dropped from his impenetrable pitches. Gisangju glanced over at Jimaengho, who was waiting in the batter’s box.

“Jimaengho got two walks today, right? The UG guys seem to be avoiding a showdown with Jimaengho. It’s probably because I couldn’t support him properly earlier. I have to step up. This time, I’ll definitely hit.”

As Gisangju mentally prepares himself, Webb confirms the catcher’s sign and throws the second pitch.

“That’s bland!”

The second pitch was a bland curveball. A poorly executed breaking ball. Gisangju smoothly evaded the incoming curveball.

Thunk!

“A home run seems unlikely. If I play it right, it could reach second base…!”

Judging the launch angle, it wasn’t a ball that would clear the fence, so Gisangju quickly started running towards first base.

[Gisangju’s hit! It’s fast! Over the second baseman’s head, near the outfield wall! The center fielder and right fielder converge to catch the ball!]

As Gisangju touched first base, UG’s right fielder, Choi Jaehyun, caught the ball.

“What should I do? Should I run or go back?”

If he ran to second base after covering the distance, it could have been a close call with Choi Jaehyun, known for his outstanding defense in right field. The odds were fifty-fifty. And Gisangju’s thoughts extended to the on-deck batter.

“It might be better if first base is occupied right now…”

With thoughts reaching the next batter, Gisangju halted his steps towards second base and returned to first base. His on-deck batter was Jimaengho, currently displaying impeccable hitting form. Given their previous matchups, it was a logical choice considering that if he reached second base, intentional walks to Jimaengho were likely.

“Jimaengho, I trust you.”

Once a powerhouse in the batting lineup, Gisangju’s decision to abandon records and pride and opt for this method solely relied on trusting Jimaengho.

-Jimaengho! Jimaengho! Jimaengho!

And just as Gisangju trusted Jimaengho, the fans believed in him too. They believed that their cleanup hitter, Jimaengho, would deliver a home run this time at bat.

[Jimaengho steps up to the plate. Jimaengho, who has drawn two walks in his previous two at-bats…? Huh? Is he pointing his bat towards the outfield wall?! Jimaengho’s signature pre-home run gesture is here. Throughout the season, he has given about 7 pre-home run signals, all of which have been successful.]

[Runner on first base. It’s time to get into the action. This showdown is inevitable… Huh? Manager Mongitaek is signaling for an intentional walk?]

[An intentional walk with a runner on first base… The next batter is Choi Jincheol, right?]

[That’s correct. Jimaengho seems puzzled as he heads to first base.]

However, all those beliefs were shattered with one gesture from Mongitaek. An unbelievable decision to intentionally walk a batter with a runner on first base. This choice unfolded during the Korean Series.

“…What?”

“Mongitaek, what are you doing! Damn it!”

“Why intentionally walk with a runner on base! Choi Jincheol is the next batter, are you out of your mind?!”

“Choi Jin-cheol might be better here….”

“Wow, he’s going for this?”

“It’s a warning shot home run from Maeng Ho; it’s not an easy pitch to ignore. Even I would have swung if I were up there.”

“Please, Choi Jin-cheol, please.”

The Munhak Stadium, packed with ten thousand spectators, erupted into chaos at Manager Moon Ki-taek’s decision. While most couldn’t comprehend his choice, there were quite a few who understood that facing Maeng Ho as the opposing batter could warrant such a move.

[Manager Moon Ki-taek signals for Kang Soo to walk. Bases loaded, one out. Up next is Choi Jin-cheol.]

“We’ll have to watch this game unfold to see if Manager Moon Ki-taek’s decision pays off. The game now rests in Choi Jin-cheol’s hands.”

‘Moon Ki-taek, did this bastard disrespect me?’

And that decision provoked Choi Jin-cheol. Despite not being in his prime, being a four-time home run king and three-time MVP winner, receiving such an insult was unfathomable. Known for his amiable nature among teammates, Choi Jin-cheol was pushed to the brink of disbelief and anger.

“Sigh… Let’s stay calm for now. Rushing won’t do any good.”

Veteran-like, Choi Jin-cheol composed his emotions and stepped up to the plate, surveying the field. Gazing at second base, a bewildered Kang Soo; at first base, an infuriated Maeng Ho.

“Yeah, I’ll call him out.”

A single hit would score one run, and even a double would secure two runs, considering Maeng Ho’s strong points. It required careful handling of the bat. Suppressing his boiling anger, Choi Jin-cheol focused on Webb’s pitch.

“The first pitch is a strike! 154 km/h! Austin Webb precisely hitting the low inside corner.”

“Webb is a player with excellent control, but did you expect such pitching accuracy?”

“Indeed, the 2023 Pitcher Quadruple Crown winner, Austin Webb!”

“Using Munhak Stadium for baseball and achieving these results… truly remarkable, isn’t it?”

“That’s why many teams in the US and Japan are following Webb, right?”

“Yes, although there were concerns about his stamina before the season, seeing him perform like this in the fall rotation is reassuring.”

While everyone anticipated Webb’s victory, Choi Jin-cheol persisted without surrender.

“It’s frustrating, but I have to admit it. Following this guy’s fastball is everything. I need to anticipate his changeup.”

Choi Jin-cheol timed his swing for the changeup, waiting for the right pitch.

“Ball.”

“Ball.”

“Strike.”

With a count of two strikes and two balls, UG’s battery chose the changeup Choi Jin-cheol had been waiting for. The battery’s selected changeup was a curveball.

“Here it comes!”

Having watched the ball closely until the last moment, Choi Jin-cheol made solid contact.

Thunk!

“Choi Jin-cheol hits it to right field! It drops in front of the right fielder!”

“Hold it! Hold it! Choi Jae-hyun catches it!”

“Ugh!”

However, UG’s right fielder was Choi Jae-hyun, known for being the best outfield defender in the KBA league. Second base runner Kang Soo had no choice but to halt his dash towards home.

“Kang Soo stops running! Now the situation is bases loaded!”

“Choi Jae-hyun’s throw was spot-on, right? If Kang Soo had kept running towards home, he would’ve been caught out. The third base coach made a good call.”

“Now, the 6th batter Yoon Sung-tae steps up to the plate.”

“Yoon Sung-tae has been holding down the 6th spot throughout the season, replacing Woo Gwan-hyung due to injury. He’s a powerful hitter with 13 home runs at Jamsil. Webb won’t find it easy to pitch against him.”

With Woo Gwan-hyung sidelined due to injury, leaving a void in the bases loaded situation, all baseball fans watching the game were predicting Webb’s triumph when the second base runner Maeng Ho locked eyes with Yoon Sung-tae.

“Hyung. Slider. Slider.”

Placing the fingers that had been resting on his knee, he flicked them and signaled to Yoon Sung-tae.

“Is this right?”

“It is! Just trust me and hit it, please!”

Yoon Sung-tae’s eyes wavered. Since UG’s sign had never been exposed, Yoon Sung-tae’s eyes naturally flickered. However, he soon steadied his resolve. Even during the season, there were times when Maeng-ho, who was on second base, had signaled, and with a near 100% success rate, the decision was made quite quickly.

“Alright, damn it. It’s tough enough just swinging, let’s trust Maeng-ho.”

And the pitch was thrown.

Thud—crack!

The end of Yoon Sung-tae’s bat grazed the slider coming in on a backdoor trajectory.

“The ball is hit high! Left fielder! Left fielder! Left fielder! He catches it!”

However, Austin Webb’s control was still intact, and Yoon Sung-tae’s hit failed to clear the literary wall, getting caught by the left fielder.

“Run! Run!”

And the third base runner, Ki Sang-joo, set off for home. Since it was a fly ball to the left field, Maeng-ho, the runner on second base, couldn’t start running, but Ki Sang-joo safely reached home.

“With Yoon Sung-tae’s sacrifice fly, AT Thunderz adds a run! The score is 3:1! AT Thunderz leads by 2 runs! Now, with one out and runners on first and second, the 7th batter, Han Sang-kyu, steps up to the plate.”

Continuing with the scoring situation, AT fans hoped that Han Sang-kyu, who seized the opportunity due to Woo Kwan-hyung’s injury, would capitalize on this chance, but…

Thunk!

Whether it was due to Webb regaining his composure, Han Sang-kyu’s hit weakly rolled into the infield.

“Austin Webb turns a double play, averting the crisis with a 4-6-3 double play! Meeting the requirements of a quality start!”

“It looks like Coach Moon Ki-taek’s decision was right, doesn’t it? By holding AT’s cleanup to just 1 run.”

Moon Ki-taek intentionally walked Ji Maeng-ho from first base, conceding a run, but it was quite successful. And in baseball, when such gambles succeed, the momentum tends to shift. Especially when it ends with a double play, it feels even more significant.

“Gu Jin-mo’s hit! It goes over the wall! UG Overlords tie the game in an instant!”

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Gu Jin-mo’s two-run homer tied the game instantly, and UG capitalized on the momentum, adding 2 more runs by attacking AT’s bullpen, taking the lead.

“In the top of the 8th inning, with UG Overlords leading 5:3, AT Thunderz’s offense starts with the 2nd batter, Kim Soo-ho.”

Trailing behind, the 8th inning began, and leadoff batter Kim Soo-ho hit a double, reaching base, but…

“Ki Sang-joo hits the ball high! Wall! Wall! Caught near the wall! Kim Soo-ho can’t move.”

Ki Sang-joo’s hit was caught near the wall, resulting in an out. Then came Ji Maeng-ho’s turn at bat. AT fans cheered loudly for Ji Maeng-ho, but he didn’t swing the bat.

“Oh, Ji Maeng-ho gets another intentional walk. Recording four walks today for a perfect on-base percentage.”

Despite Ji Maeng-ho reaching base with an intentional walk and the opportunity of runners on first and second with one out, AT could only add one run with Choi Jin-cheol’s single, tilting the weight of the game towards UG.

And in the top of the 9th inning, UG’s closer, Kim Woo-jun, took the mound to finish the game, maintaining the one-run lead until the end.

“Game over! 5:4! UG Overlords win the first game!”

*

“Sigh, damn. What should I do?”

“What are you doing? Not even sleeping.”

“I should sleep. Sigh…”

Sitting blankly on the chair, I was called by my roommate Seongtae, but I didn’t budge. The reason? Obviously because of today’s game. Even though I got on base in my previous at-bat, standing in the batter’s box, I could feel it. Throughout this series, those UG guys would have no chance against me.

“Mr. Rosby, what should we do?”

“Well, I’m not sure. This is also my first time facing such a situation…”

Rosby seemed equally bewildered by the unfamiliar circumstances. After experiencing such a defeat, I felt utterly powerless. With the pitcher not even trying to compete, there was nothing I could do.

“Damn, what am I supposed to do?”

While pondering in my seat, Rosby called out to me.

“Hmm… Well, for now, there seems to be only one way.”

There’s a way?

“What do you mean?”

“It’s not a solution, but… well….”

And Rosby began explaining the method he had in mind.