episode_0374

– Jeong Hwichul! Jeong Hwichul! Jeong Hwichul!

“Hwichul! That was great!”

“Nice!”

– Batting second, Ji Maengho!

-Wow!!!

After Jeong Hwichul’s hit, the Jamsil Stadium erupted once again as the announcer called out my name. The fans seemed to be eagerly anticipating my appearance.

‘Phew, I wonder if Juhee is watching too?’

Before stepping up to the plate, I glanced towards the table where Juhee was seated, the same spot I checked after hitting a home run earlier. Even though she was wearing a hat that obscured her face, her idol-like aura was unmistakable.

‘Juhee, watch me play!’

-Ji Maengho~! Ji Maengho~! Ohhh! Thunder’s Ji Maengho! Send it flying to the ends of the sky!

With determination in mind, I entered the batter’s box, and my cheering song reverberated through the stadium. Despite being down by five runs, pitcher Na Seungyoon still seemed tense as I stepped up to bat.

‘This kid looks nervous.’

In a tied 5-5 game with one out and a runner on first base, facing a pitcher who I had hit a consecutive home run off in the previous at-bat, staying calm was challenging.

‘First pitch?’

‘A curveball.’

The meaning of a first-pitch curveball was crystal clear—it signaled an attempt to catch me off guard.

“Ball.”

As expected, the curveball broke outside the zone. I could sense the pitcher’s nerves from his shaky delivery.

‘Why isn’t he changing it? It’s obvious he’s nervous.’

“Nervousness…”

Even the catcher’s voice seemed shaky.

‘Ugh. Looks like they might try to avoid me this time.’

Judging by the battery’s demeanor, it seemed like they might intentionally walk me.

‘Damn, should I swing more aggressively?’

However, no matter how nervous the battery appeared, the desire to throw strikes intensified when faced with a 2-0 count. I decided to at least make contact with the next two strikes.

‘Fastball.’

‘Okay.’

The battery opted for a fastball that was just right for a swing. I prepared to swing in sync with the timing of his pitch.

Swish!

“Strike!”

The sound of the bat cutting through the air was accompanied by the umpire’s strike call.

‘I swung a bit late. Did he notice?’

‘Fastball.’

‘Hmm, he’s not completely clueless. A good catcher should do this.’

Just as Na Seungyoon had thrown the ball and I had slightly delayed my swing, it seemed like the catcher fell into my trap.

This time, the ball came towards me with a trajectory inside.

Swish!

“Strike!”

Once again, the umpire’s strike call echoed through the stadium.

“Ugh. Was that a strike just now?”

“You missed one.”

“Thank you.”

For the sake of a convincing performance, I didn’t forget to ask the umpire about the ball’s location. The battery’s sign exchange seemed prolonged, possibly due to my acting skills.

‘I can hear you, loud and clear. The sound of rolling eyes reaches me.’

What pitch will they choose now? My stance seemed like I was aiming for a changeup twice in a row.

‘Changeup.’

‘Changeup? Ha… They still haven’t caught on.’

It was evident why they chose a changeup. After attempting a changeup twice in a row, they probably assumed I would anticipate a fastball this time. Being cornered with a 2-2 count, it seemed like a smart pitch selection.

…But not for me.

‘Hmm, even if they don’t put it in the zone, they’ll likely try to disrupt my timing by throwing it close to the border.’

Despite not putting it in the zone, they probably knew they needed to keep the pitch close to the border to throw off my swing. Keeping this in mind, I awaited the pitch.

And there it was, the batter’s changeup.

‘Outside!’

Already anticipating it, timing was easier than picking up women,

Swing—crack!

A cheerful hitting sound resonated. The ball’s direction was left. Successfully pulling off a delayed changeup by the guy. However, since Jamsil was wider than imagined, he couldn’t be certain it would clear, so he threw the bat and ran towards first base.

“Wow!!!”

The ball began to approach the outfield wall, starting its descent. And left fielder Kim Dong-jin backpedaled towards the warning track.

“Will he catch it?”

First base runner Jung Hwi-cheol could be seen gauging the distance near second base. Then, the falling Hwi-cheol’s foot. That foot was heading towards third base.

“Wow!!!”

“Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho! Ji Maeng-ho!”

He successfully cleared the outfield wall.

“Oh, this too? Will this be a three consecutive home runs?”

Three consecutive home runs. Although he recalled achieving this in high school or maybe at the Asian Games, doing it in the pros felt like a first.

“Well, isn’t luck on my side? Even the sky is helping me.”

Honestly, a double would have been fine, but to clear it like this. Luck was on his side.

“Ji Maeng-ho! Are you crazy?! Three consecutive home runs?!”

“Senior, that’s me, Ji Maeng-ho!”

After exchanging high-fives with Kiseong-ju waiting in the on-deck circle, as I entered the dugout, my teammates greeted me once again with enthusiastic congratulations. However, their expressions seemed taken aback by my three consecutive home runs.

“Well, I was surprised too.”

“Han Cheol, the grizzled pitcher, is being replaced… ”

And Han Cheol, who started today, Seung-yoon Na, stepped down from the mound. With 4.1 innings and 7 earned runs, it was time for him to step down. It even felt like a slightly delayed pitching change.

“I wish it had been a bit more intense…”

Although I felt sorry for my teammates, I hoped today’s stage was more for me.

“Seung-cheol hyung! Give it a little more effort!”

Today, what’s up with Maeng-ho? Three consecutive home runs, insane lol

ㄴㅇㅅㅁㅎㅅ

ㄴBut well, three consecutive home runs happen occasionally.

“How many have recorded four consecutive hits?”

ㄴThree. Two games had four consecutive hits.

ㄴㄴMaeng-ho seems unstoppable today lol

“But seriously, hitting three home runs, is that for real? We should also consider watching Sip Chan-young’s tricky pitches.”

ㄴFor real, Maeng-ho is on fire, and Ju Seung-cheol doesn’t seem stable either.

ㄴㄴThat damn Seung-cheol, why is he off this season? He needs a drug test.

ㄴㄴShouldn’t Maeng-ho be tested first for drugs? It’s good for our team, but that guy is seriously weird.

[Ju Seung-cheol’s timely hit! With two outs, Ju Seung-cheol’s timely hit scores, making it 7:6!]

[Wow, if Ji Maeng-ho hits, I will too. Can feel Ju Seung-cheol’s determination here.]

“Oh, Sip Chan-young is giving away points again. If that’s the case, don’t change Flower Snake.”

ㄴFor real, should’ve stuck with Flower Snake.

“Sip Chan-young, just pitch it straight down the middle! Don’t give a walk.”

[Three-ball hit! This ball is going over! Two-run homer! Timothy Thompson turns the game around! Han Cheol’s fourth batter flips this game! Score 8:7!]

“Damn, he really put it right down the middle when told to.”

“That guy is feather-light? If he gets hit, it’s near the wall.”

[Kim Chan-young catches Park Jung-gi, ending the inning. But in the bottom of the 5th, Han Cheol’s lineup is back in action, making it 8:7. Han Cheol Grizzlies lead by one point.]

“Why is today’s game like this? Can’t hold onto the lead for even one inning.”

“I believe. Maeng-ho… please…”

[In the top of the 6th, Han Dong-kyun takes the mound.]

“Bringing in left-handed pitcher Han Dong-kyun here is probably to counter Yoon Sung-tae, Baek Jeong-jin, Kim Hyun-sung, Lee In-hyuk, and Jung Hwi-cheol following

[Yoon Sung-tae! Yoon Sung-tae, the impact feels good today!]

[Baek Jeong-jin! He breaks through the infield! Runners on first and second with no outs!]

[They’re bunting here. Manager Lee Soo-hyun instructs Kim Hyun-seong to bunt. Kim Hyun-seong attempts the bunt. It drops in front of the catcher! Jang Woo-hyun! Force out at third base! Out at third!]

“It seems like being a second-year rookie, Kim Hyun-seong isn’t quite comfortable with bunting, but player Kim Hyun-seong, you need to make this bunt successful.”

[And In-hyuk’s hit! It goes high! Shortstop calls for it. Out! Quickly increasing the count to two outs, Han Dong-gyun!]

“Now at bat is Jung Hwi-cheol. From Han Cheol’s perspective, he needs to finish this inning here. If Jung Hwi-cheol gets on base, the next batter is Maeng Ho, who has hit three consecutive home runs today.”

-Hwicheol, please. Just up to Maeng-ho.

-Jung Hwi-cheol? Where did this guy come from?

ㄴI heard he’s from Shin-go.

ㄴㄴDamn, that Shin-go guy is hitting number one there. Ridiculous.

[Jung Hwi-cheol! Bat! He doesn’t swing! Jung Hwi-cheol holds back on this pitch! The count is now full.]

“Ah, damn, this guy’s cutting it close.”

Thunk!

[Foul! Jung Hwi-cheol fouls off the pitch.]

“This guy plays baseball like crap.”

ㄴHow many balls is that, damn it?

ㄴThis bastard has been playing for years, why is he messing around with rookies? I want to strangle him.

-Hwicheol, please!

ㄴThe atmosphere seems good, right? Feels like he’ll get on base somehow.

ㄴNo “feeling,” just “somehow.”

[Ball! He takes the pitch! After 13 pitches, Jung Hwi-cheol walks, loading the bases with two outs! And stepping up to bat is Maeng Ho, who has hit three consecutive home runs today! And Han Cheol’s pitching coach approaches the mound. Han Dong-gyun’s done. Next pitcher is Jeon Dae-hoon.]

“Here comes the trump card. Jeon Dae-hoon’s performance this season includes 33 games, allowing 7 earned runs over 31 innings with a 2.03 ERA. Expect a showdown between Jeon Dae-hoon and Maeng Ho.”

*

“The first pitch… probably a forkball, right?”

Jeon Dae-hoon’s repertoire includes fastballs and forkballs. Even if you expect a walk, it was clear he would keep throwing forkballs.

“Yeah, a forkball.”

And Jeon Dae-hoon chooses the forkball. The ball bounces as a ground ball into the catcher’s mitt.

“Ball.”

“A fastball.”

A pitcher throwing a forkball is likely to follow up with a high fastball. Trying to use the forkball more effectively by throwing it near my eyes?

“Ball.”

“And now it’s a 2-0 count.”

“A forkball.”

“Okay. With a 2-0 count, he probably wants to put it inside, right?”

I prepare to time the forkball and wait for his pitch.

“Huh?”

And the forkball that didn’t break down as expected. Being prepared, swinging the bat wasn’t an issue. And the unfaltering forkball…

Crack!

It felt like hitting a batting practice ball. A solid contact right at the center of the bat. The forkball seemed to fly straight towards the left field wall. A hit I couldn’t believe even after hitting it. A line drive home run over the left field wall at Jamsil Baseball Stadium.

-Wow!!!

“What kind of day is today? The pitching is outstanding, isn’t it? Wait, did I just hit four home runs in a row?”

Four consecutive home runs. Solo home run, two-run homer, two-run homer, and a grand slam. As I rounded the bases, it felt too good to be true.

“Ah, damn, even hitting three home runs would have been a cycle.”

“You’re greedy. The pitching was so good, yet you want more.”

“Hehe, Mr. Losby. Are you jealous because you can’t hit like this?”

“Shut up, you brat.”

As Ross B’s words suggested, even with just four consecutive home runs, it was already an incredible record, so any regrets quickly faded away. Following that, whether my home run served as a turning point or not, Kiseongju and Choi Jincheol showcased consecutive hits, adding one more point, and with Kim Suho’s two-run homer, the game gradually tilted in our favor.

“Manager, a five consecutive home runs. Can we find out about the record? Do you happen to know?”

“As far as I know, it hasn’t happened in the U.S., and Murakami hit five consecutive home runs in Japan two years ago; that might have been the first time. But Maengho, are you conscious of the record?”

“Since it’s turned out like this, might as well aim for it.”