Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 169

The scoreboard displayed a string of zeros. The pitcher’s momentum showed no signs of slowing. The players moved with a clockwork precision, their game sense sharp and focused. Even the Braves wore grim expressions. All of it combined to create an increasingly charged atmosphere at Coors Field.

“Huh? Wait a minute…”

A spectator, only now realizing the significance of the game, muttered to himself, drawing annoyed glances from those nearby. His friend, eager to avoid the attention, frantically covered his mouth.

“Shut up, shut up.”

“Why? Isn’t it… that thing?”

“Everyone but you already knows, so please, just shut the hell up, you son of a bitch.”

“Why the swearing…”

Having barely managed to silence his friend with such harsh words, the man wiped his sweaty hands on the oblivious friend’s clothes.

Yes, everyone knew now. The players on the field, the home crowd, the commentators, even the opposing Braves.

‘No-hitter…’

Reciting the monumental achievement in his head, a famous jinx [a superstition that mentioning a good thing will cause it to end] coming to mind, the man watched the pitcher with tense eyes, afraid to speak the words aloud.

Peter Henson, despite his obvious talent, was always a pitcher with a hint of vulnerability. The common belief was that if you managed to rattle him, he would fall apart, no matter the opponent.

But at this moment, he seemed more dependable than any other pitcher, even compared to multiple Cy Young [award given to the best pitcher in each league] winners or legends of the past.

‘Yeah, it’s about time he showed up. How long has it been…’

Now in the top of the 6th, with two-thirds of the game gone, the pitcher had a firm grip on everyone’s hearts.

Each desperate swing from the batter elicited gasps of shock from around Coors Field.

And when the ball nestled snugly into the catcher’s mitt, as if mocking the batter, sighs of relief would follow.

[Ah… a swing and a miss, a strikeout. Peter Henson… finishes the top of the 6th cleanly once again. It’s hard to even mention it.]

The announcer struggled to swallow the words swirling in his mouth, unable to hide his trembling eyes.

He was more flustered than ever. Why, of all times, did this have to happen while he was broadcasting? And at Coors Field, of all places?

Whether the rumor had spread or not, the PD [Production Director] was ecstatic about the skyrocketing ratings, but the broadcasting team’s anxiety only grew.

One slip of the tongue, and if the record were broken soon after, they would be scapegoated and witch-hunted.

[Peter Henson… he’s always been good. But today, he’s just incredible. And against the Braves, who are considered the strongest in the league…]

[Yes, it’s a very different game than expected. But the Braves are also holding the Rockies at bay.]

[That’s right, it’s still only 1-0. Just as the Braves’ offense has been stifled, the Rockies haven’t been able to create any significant opportunities since their one run in the 3rd, leading to a tight pitching duel.]

That was what the commentator said, but he knew the truth. Even though it was only a one-run difference, right now, it was definitely the Rockies’ game.

While the Braves were holding on with excellent defense in place of a struggling starting pitcher, the Rockies were simply dominating the Braves’ lineup.

The nine strikeouts already racked up through the 6th inning made it clear who was suffering more.

Due to the stadium’s characteristics, ground balls produced through unconventional methods were common instead of power-on-power matchups, but today, it was just relentless strikeouts.

As a result, the swings of the Braves’ batters, pushed back by the momentum, became increasingly wild, and the pitcher’s deceptive pitches became even more effective.

The pressure on the Braves, the ones being dominated, was no less than the burden felt by the pitcher and the Rockies.

‘However… even so, it’s only a slight advantage. There are hitters lined up who can send it over the fence if they get ahold of one.’

Ignoring the slightly flustered, still-young announcer, the commentator turned his gaze to the Braves players leaving the dugout for the change of innings. Among them, he saw the solidly built player heading to the shortstop position.

A player who, no matter the situation, always gave the Braves fans the most reliable sense of security. The presence of the batter who had overcome every obstacle in his path thus far felt even more significant than the pitcher who was in the middle of a no-hitter.

‘If the Rockies’ momentum breaks, it’ll start with him.’

####

‘Today’s the day for sure.’

Lee Jungwoo nodded as he took his position. Even with his memories, he didn’t know the exact date, so he had been a bit unsure. But seeing the pitcher’s momentum, it was clear that the moment etched in his memory was today.

‘The pressure’s getting to them. Well, a no-hitter at Coors is quite the embarrassing record to have broken.’

The faces were stiff, filled with the thought that they had to make it happen.

Even the experienced veterans were thinking that way.

Even Lee Jungwoo himself.

‘So this is what it feels like, the pressure on the receiving end.’

He hadn’t understood it before.

Why were the opposing batters so nervous? With nine batters and 27 at-bats, the record could be broken with just one lucky hit. Why were they so tense?

But now he felt like he understood. The moment you think you might be the one to fail, it starts to erode the atmosphere little by little.

Just like how pitchers get caught up in the record as they get closer and closer, ultimately ruining everything.

‘Let’s think comfortably. The record itself was going to be broken anyway. Just focus on winning as usual.’

Perhaps the result of the record being broken because of him might be twisted, and this time, he might succeed spectacularly instead.

Lee Jungwoo didn’t want to think that far ahead. No matter how much he expanded his thoughts, there was no answer anyway.

Trying to alleviate the tension as much as possible, even if forced, Lee Jungwoo approached the starting pitcher, Stuart, who seemed intimidated by the incredible performance of their opponent in this game, and said,

“You’re not going to be able to do it anyway, so don’t be so scared. When the game is over, people will remember Harry Stuart’s complete game victory at Coors Field, not the no-hitter. You trust me, right?”

“Phew, yeah, of course. Who else would I trust but you? Oh, yeah, I trust the Captain too.”

“We’ll take care of ruining their record, so you just focus on pitching calmly.”

When Derek, who had been watching and followed along, patted him on the back as well, Stuart forced a smile and nodded.

It was, in a way, a white lie [a harmless or trivial lie, often told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings]. Lee Jungwoo, Derek, and Stuart himself all knew that his stamina wasn’t that great.

They knew that even if he stretched it out as much as possible, he would have to hand the mound over to the next pitcher at best after the next inning, or after this inning, or even before finishing it in the worst case.

But even if it was just empty words, there was nothing better to ease the tension. And the effect wasn’t limited to the pitcher alone.

“Let’s try to hold them off well this inning too. I’m getting old, so my heart’s aching. Lee, you hit one out as soon as the next inning starts.”

Lee Jungwoo gave a thumbs up in response to Derek’s grinning words, then took his position and looked at the Rockies batter coming up with a serious expression.

‘I have to protect it as much as possible here. It’s okay now because there’s no score difference, but if it widens from here, it’s over.’

What was keeping the current Braves afloat was the possibility of victory. The belief that they could tie the game with one big hit, and win with one more, was sustaining them.

Lee Jungwoo thought that if that disappeared and the result of defeat was right in front of them, they wouldn’t be able to laugh and joke like they were now.

If a similar result to what he had seen before his regression were to occur, it would affect the next game as well.

‘Let’s just hold them off and think about it.’

And the Rockies’ offense, unlike before, was a bit more refined.

The batters, stiff with tension, had been making absurd swings until the previous inning. They had been consistently making what they called hero swings [trying to hit a home run] to score as many points as possible, hoping to relieve the burden on the pitcher who was challenging a record that only one person in history had achieved.

So even if they managed to hit the ball, it couldn’t lead to a good hit. Most of the time, it was resolved within the infield, but this time it was different.

[A hit! It’s a hit! A ball that went past the left fielder! The batter advances to second base!]

[Two outs, runner on second. The Rockies have created another opportunity.]

It was good that they struck out Peter Henson, who wasn’t even moving in the pitcher’s at-bat, which was the first at-bat of the inning. But the subsequent batters stubbornly held on and drew pitches. Eventually, the second batter hit a double.

Only one out remained until the end of the inning. It wasn’t a completely unfavorable condition since a sacrifice fly was impossible, but the problem was that the next batter up was the most dangerous hitter on the Rockies.

‘Roman Bernstein.’

The batter strode confidently forward.

Normally, the appearance of Denver’s hero, the Wolverine, would have been met with thunderous cheers, but today, there was a different protagonist, so the stadium was quiet.

The spectators, as if afraid to break the pitcher’s concentration, suppressed their emotions and simply watched the batter with expectant eyes.

‘It’s dangerous. We just need to get past this one…’

At the crucial moment, Lee Jungwoo looked at the mound. Stuart looked tired, but he still seemed to have some strength left, wearing a confident expression.

And after a brief preparation, the showdown began. With each pitch, the sweat dripping from Stuart became thicker.

A batter with plenty of power. Although there were claims that his home run count was exaggerated due to the Coors Field buff [Coors Field is known to be hitter-friendly due to its altitude], the top-notch hitter, who showed great ability even below the mountains, was a tricky opponent for the pitcher to face.

It would have been easier if he was just a power hitter full of empty swings, but the opponent also had precise hitting ability.

‘Stuart, let’s just get past this, just get past this.’

Lee Jungwoo supported the pitcher in his mind as if chanting a spell, and started running in sync with the sound of the bat that soon followed. The runner on second base, who had moved even earlier, also moved his feet quickly.

‘The left fielder is far away. I have to catch it.’

The left-handed batter’s hit, pushed to the opposite field, flew coolly towards left-center.

Because the defensive line had been pulled back due to his awareness of the batter’s long hits, it seemed difficult for the left fielder to catch it, so Lee Jungwoo ran without hesitation.

‘If I don’t catch it, we’re definitely going to give up a run. The runner’s start was fast. I have to catch it no matter what.’

The breath that had been gradually becoming labored as they approached the later innings became even more strained. But he didn’t stop. He just chased the ball to the end, his eyes fixed on the round ball.

And at the last moment, he threw his body forward and turned the hand wearing the glove in the opposite direction.

Feeling the slightly insufficient distance and the sensation of everything slowing down, Lee Jungwoo stretched out his fingers and extended his glove as much as possible.

‘Got it-!’

He carefully cradled the ball, which had barely, very barely, caught on the edge, with his glove as if holding an egg.

“Out! It’s an out!”

At the stadium, which was already in a festive mood as if anticipating a hit, and as the spectators applauded the runner who had already stepped on home base before he caught it and Roman Bernstein who had stopped safely at first base,

Lee Jungwoo, who had jumped up, broke the mood. Roman Bernstein at first base, who was visible at the edge of his vision, froze. The left fielder, who had run over first, hugged him tightly.

Stuart, who had been slumped over, thinking that he had widened the gap due to his own greed, belatedly grasped the situation and raised both hands in the air, cheering.

‘Phew. Safe for now. Let’s go all the way.’

Three outs. End of the inning.

The score was still 1-0.

And Lee Jungwoo felt a properly sharpened sense. He was already very tired because he was a bit late, but he too was starting to get into the groove like the pitcher.

####

Change of innings.

Lee Jungwoo, wearing an oxygen mask, barely calmed his lungs, which felt like they were about to burst.

Because the high altitude meant there was less oxygen than usual, and because he had been running around like a madman, his lungs and heart, which had been overworked, were pounding as if cursing their owner. But it was worth it.

‘My senses are sharp. All that’s left is to connect it to my hitting.’

His concentration was so high that he could feel everything sensitively. Lee Jungwoo hoped that it would have an effect on his hitting, just like it had been working so far.

“Haa, I thought I was going to die. Thanks to you, I lived. Still, 6 innings and 1 run is pretty good, right? Especially at Coors. Even if I become the losing pitcher, I have no regrets now.”

Stuart, who was much more exhausted than Lee Jungwoo, was stabilizing his mind and body while consuming several oxygen tanks alone, but he couldn’t hide his smile.

He would have been satisfied with just a quality start [pitching at least six innings and allowing no more than three earned runs], but he had achieved a good record of 6 innings and 1 run at Coors Field, of all places. He was already satisfied.

“I’ll at least make it a no-decision, so wait and see.”

Lee Jungwoo, who had uttered those slightly boastful words to Stuart, soon led his body, which had been calmed down after intensive care (?), and got up from his seat. He was the lead batter for this inning as well, since there had been no on-base appearances since the walk that Derek had earned.

Having carefully prepared to maintain the sense he had gained from his defense, Lee Jungwoo slowly entered hostile territory, looking at him with a very hostile gaze.

‘I ruined the opportunity to solidify their victory with my own hands. I must be quite the eyesore.’

Perhaps the Rockies thought there couldn’t be a bigger eyesore than him. But Lee Jungwoo had already decided to be the biggest eyesore of this game, so he didn’t care about the opposing team’s gaze.

“You looked very tired, so don’t overdo it. You know? Your body is always the most important thing.”

Leaving behind the hitting coach’s worried words, Lee Jungwoo went up to the plate and looked into the pitcher’s eyes.

In the beginning, the pitcher’s eyes had only been filled with deep wariness when he looked at Lee Jungwoo.

But now, he wasn’t looking at Lee Jungwoo, but at himself. He could only feel a strong confidence that made his eyes burn.

‘This is the most dangerous moment. For the pitcher, and for the batter facing him.’

Perfect concentration that obscured his vision. If he could just break it, it would collapse easily enough to be absurd. The problem was that it was damn hard.

‘It’s doable. It’s doable. Very doable. It’s doable, definitely.’

To shatter that, he had to have a similar level himself, so Lee Jungwoo hypnotized himself and filled the batter’s box with a still mechanical face.

Silence flowed.

Both were focused only on themselves, so unlike before, there wasn’t even a simple staring contest. And perhaps wanting to receive a decent watch even though a perfect game was long gone, the catcher was careful even with his breathing so as not to disturb the pitcher’s mood.

‘Calmly, calmly.’

In the showdown that began with Lee Jungwoo’s muttering, the pitcher showed a bold side, just like in the previous at-bats.

A sinker [a type of pitch that drops rapidly as it approaches the plate] that was properly planted inside the strike zone. Some of the spectators, who unknowingly opened their mouths at the 95 mph pitch even in the top of the 7th, barely managed to cover their mouths with their hands.

The daring second pitch, which was planted in the same course and with the same velocity without hesitation, even made the commentators, who were commentating in hushed tones, sigh.

There were people who were already presuming the result from the start, with the same pattern as the previous at-bats. But as if to mock them, Lee Jungwoo calmly and steadily twisted little by little, just like he had been repeating to himself.

“Foul!”

“Foul!”

“Foul!”

Three consecutive fouls.

Now, only silent screams filled the air. A cold tension, like walking on thin ice, soaked the ground.

And then another foul. Two strikes, no balls. The count still hadn’t changed. The only difference was the distance of the foul balls.

If the first foul was in the direction of the first base stands, the fourth foul hit the base of the outer right field stands.

A timing that anyone could see he was getting a feel for. In fact, Lee Jungwoo felt the bat getting lighter and lighter.

‘Come on.’

At the most crucial moment.

What broke the flow was the catcher’s brave action.

“Time!”

“Ah…”

A time call that ruined the batter’s timing. Lee Jungwoo couldn’t help but sigh for a moment. The concentration that had been at its peak, beyond its limits, had fallen back below the line.

‘Smart. Very smart.’

The catcher, who had become hateful for no reason. But he knew how much courage it took to call a time in a situation where he could also break the pitcher’s concentration, so he just glared at him and said nothing.

After the battery [the pitcher and catcher] spent some time pretending to match signs, they were back in play.

Unlike the still bold pitcher, the catcher could relax for a moment at Lee Jungwoo’s face, which seemed a little uncomfortable. Only for a moment.

“Hmph-”

Lee Jungwoo clearly showed people why the catcher had to cut off the flow, even if he had to force it.

Bang-

The sound of the bat hitting the ball that the pitcher threw after preparing was similar to that of a home run. No, maybe even more powerful.

“Oh- oh oh oh- oh!”

“FuckFuckFuckFuck…”

“Go, go, go, please.”

The endlessly rising ball was so fast that everyone missed it for a moment. It was only after the final video review that they were barely able to confirm that it was a foul.

The tension that had been hanging over the stadium at that moment disappeared. Only overwhelming fear took its place.

The eyes that looked at Lee Jungwoo, who hadn’t even moved from the batter’s box because he had already realized that he had slightly missed it himself, trembled endlessly.

No, more important than those things…

‘It’s broken.’

The veil that had been placed on the pitcher had been lifted.

Lee Jungwoo could feel it. The pitcher who had reigned on the mound and the pitcher in front of him now were completely different people. He could tell just by looking at his eyes. Unlike the dozens of seconds ago, when extreme confidence and concentration had been covering his eyes like an iron wall.

‘Come at me one more time.’

Now, his pupils were filled with Lee Jungwoo himself.