Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 130

#129. Until the Last Out

“Yerin, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick again?”

“No, I think I’m just too nervous. I feel a little breathless.”

“That’s it. I’m going with you when you go back to Korea. Let’s get you thoroughly checked by Dr. Jang while we’re at it, okay?”

“Okay, Dad.”

“Alright, but honestly, I’m feeling a bit suffocated too. This is a first for me, watching a game like this. Whew… If we’re like this just watching, how must the players feel?”

Min Tae-hyun stroked his daughter’s hair with a worried expression.

He thought he had grown used to this, as it had happened often since she was little, but it wasn’t easy. Seeing his child in pain was too much for a parent.

‘Should I contact her mother too?’

It had already been five years since he and his wife had drifted apart, and now they barely saw each other once a year, but her love for their daughter was still special.

He knew Yerin contacted her mother whenever she needed legal help.

A woman who loved her work more than her family… Would the day ever come when the three of them could live together harmoniously again?

A bitter smile appeared on Min Tae-hyun’s lips.

* * *

Whoosh

“Swing! Out!”

With neither team scoring, the game had progressed to the top of the 9th inning.

American starter Ryan Thibeault was taken off the mound after holding the Korean lineup scoreless through the bottom of the 5th.

After that, the best pitchers in the world, including Philadelphia Phillies ace Larry Armstrong, took the mound for the American team and completely shut down the Korean batting lineup.

The only regret was Han Su-hyeok’s massive hit in the bottom of the 7th.

The ball, which he hit on Larry Armstrong’s first pitch, flew towards the right fence. Although it was slightly mis-hit, Han Su-hyeok managed to send the ball near the fence.

Just as the ball was about to go over the fence for a home run, American right fielder Kyle Gardner jumped up against the fence and caught it.

They were truly amazing guys. The Korean team wasn’t the only one taking the game seriously.

The American national team players were also gritting their teeth and playing with everything they had.

Just like that, a home run vanished in vain.

The American team’s momentum could have increased after that great play.

But that didn’t happen.

Han Su-hyeok perfectly shut down the American offense again in the top of the 8th. Conscious of his pitch count limit, Han Su-hyeok started aiming for ground balls rather than strikeouts, and that strategy worked perfectly, retiring the American batters in order.

In the bottom of the 8th, another disappointing opportunity passed for Korea.

After a one-out single by Ahn Tae-gyu, #7, and a walk by Jung Dae-han, #8, with runners on first and second with one out, Min Ju-hyun, #9, and Lee Chan-ho, #1, struck out in succession, ultimately failing to score.

The American pitching staff’s power was hard to describe with just words; they were simply on another level.

“Ah, seriously, monster after monster, after monster… These guys are insane.”

“How is Han Su-hyeok dealing with those monsters all by himself…”

Sighs and exclamations poured out from all over the Korean cheering section.

And then the fateful top of the 9th inning began.

The game was briefly stopped as the American dugout requested the infield be groomed.

Both players and spectators had a chance to catch their breath.

Only then were people able to recall one fact they had forgotten due to the nail-biting tension.

Although the game wasn’t over yet, Han Su-hyeok hadn’t allowed any of the American batters to reach first base.

It was a breathtaking thought.

Would a perfect game be achieved on the big stage of the WBC [World Baseball Classic] finals?

Could they possibly win against America and even achieve a great record?

But that grand dream was shattered while facing the first batter in the top of the 9th.

Thwack

“Agh!”

“No!”

“Why that! Why!”

Third baseman Min Ju-hyun, fielding a routine ground ball, committed a terrible throwing error to first base.

Fortunately, the catcher quickly backed up, preventing the runner from advancing to second, but Han Su-hyeok’s perfect game ended so anticlimactically.

Min Ju-hyun, who had once criticized Han Su-hyeok’s cocky attitude in a league game, hung his head low, unable to say a word.

Han Su-hyeok approached Min Ju-hyun first.

“Senior.”

“…Damn it, I’m really sorry.”

“No, I was actually getting nervous because of the record, so it’s okay.”

“What?”

“What’s so important about a perfect game? We should think about winning the game first. It’s okay.”

Not much else was said. That short conversation was the end of it.

But Min Ju-hyun’s face flushed red after hearing those words.

What an incredible guy.

A rookie who’s only in his first year, and his perfect game is broken by a fielder’s error in the 9th inning, yet he tries to comfort him.

To think he said such idiotic things like he had no manners.

‘Damn it, I’m so ashamed I can’t even look him in the face.’

Min Ju-hyun renewed his determination, vowing to somehow repay Han Su-hyeok for his apologetic heart and the mistake he had made.

Of course, Han Su-hyeok’s words were one hundred percent sincere.

Perfect game? He had already done it before his regression. And a few no-hitters to boot.

Unlike before, he had been playing baseball for too long to care about each and every record.

What he needed now was just one thing.

The Korean team’s victory, their first-ever WBC trophy; that was what Han Su-hyeok truly wanted right now.

With the runner on first due to the error, Han Su-hyeok’s pitch count reached 86.

Min Ye-rin complained of breathing difficulties at that very moment.

He didn’t know. Min Ye-rin herself couldn’t understand why her heart was beating so wildly.

‘Su-hyeok oppa…….’

* * *

– …It’s such a desperate scene. Ah, I don’t think I can watch anymore, Commissioner.

– …….

Commissioner Go Dong-shik, who usually blurted out things he wasn’t even asked to say, was silent.

The announcer looked at him with a puzzled expression.

‘…Is he crying?’

He was crying.

Go Dong-shik was fixedly staring at Han Su-hyeok, shedding tears endlessly, and that scene was being broadcast live to Korea.

– Um, Commissioner…….

– Sniff, I’m so sorry, Han Su-hyeok.

– What are you sorry about……?

– For being born in a country that’s so terrible at baseball… Anyway, I’m just sorry for everything. I’m so sorry for putting you in this situation.

This was a little dangerous. No matter how much it had turned into a nationalistic, no, a Korean-뽕 [Korean pride/hype] TV, they couldn’t go any further than this.

The announcer pulled out two tissues and handed them to Go Dong-shik, gently coaxing him.

– Commissioner, shouldn’t we be cheering for the Korean team with a cool head, especially at times like this?

– Sniff, yes, of course. We need to pull ourselves together and cheer for Han Su-hyeok.

The targets of their support seemed to be slightly different, but that was within the range of understanding.

Commissioner Go Dong-shik took off his microphone for a moment, poured out all his tears and snot, and then sat back down.

In the meantime, most of the real-time viewer comments praised Go Dong-shik as a martyr. Some even suggested that he should be appointed as KBC’s exclusive commentator.

He didn’t know. In the past, it would have been a mess covered in hate comments, but what on earth was going on in the world?

The announcer, who seemed to have barely regained his senses, sighed once and spoke to Go Dong-shik.

– Commissioner, the one-out, runner on first crisis continues. Han Su-hyeok’s pitch count is also reaching 90. Should we consider replacing the pitcher?

At those words, Go Dong-shik waved his hand in horror.

– Absolutely not. In today’s game, Korea has met the overpowered America and has endured this far with Han Su-hyeok’s individual strength. Taking Han Su-hyeok out of here? It will collapse immediately.

– But the pitch count limit is only 5 away now…….

– There’s no choice. We have to decide the game within those 5 pitches. We have to somehow get through the top of the 9th with Han Su-hyeok, and then pour everything we have left into the final attack in the bottom of the 9th.

– It’s not easy.

– It’s not easy. No, the fact that we’ve come this far in the first place is already ridiculous. It can’t be easy. People of the nation, please cheer for Han Su-hyeok so that he can exert his strength until the very end. We’re almost there. We’re really almost there…….

* * *

Sweat starts to flow from my forehead.

Am I tired?

Well, a little.

The body that Jacob created was perfect.

I was worried that the muscles built for hitting might hinder my pitching, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Even after throwing nearly 100 pitches, I didn’t feel anything strange.

The reason I’m sweating now is because of those American bastards.

Each and every player is MVP-caliber, and I’ve been throwing over 90 pitches with all my might to face those monsters, so even I can’t help but get tired.

But we’re almost there now.

Either way, I only have 5 more pitches to throw before I have to come down from the mound.

One out, runner on first.

At the plate is the American team’s ninth batter.

I have to end the game with 4 pitches before reaching the pitch count limit. That’s how I can face the next and final batter.

If I come down from the mound, will the other Korean pitchers be able to stop those crazy guys?

Well, maybe they can.

But the probability of failure is much higher. It’s not worth gambling on a game you’re destined to lose.

John Barrett, who usually plays as the second batter for his team, the Pittsburgh Pirates, but is playing as the ninth batter today, glares at me with a stiff face.

I don’t have any particular memories of that guy.

No, even if I did, it’s useless information now, considering my situation where I have to catch him with 4 pitches.

Pitching strategy is impossible from the start. The pitches I can throw now are fixed.

I have to somehow subdue him with 4 pitches.

A batter who doesn’t want to swing, and a pitcher who has to somehow induce a swing.

It’s a nerve-wracking battle.

‘Two-seamer?’

Nod

Jung Dae-han also understood my heart well.

This time it’s a two-seamer [a type of fastball]. A ball that comes into the center of the zone and then reverses.

Whoosh

Wham!

“Strike!”

Could it be that he didn’t expect me to put two balls in the zone in a row? He watched the second ball go by as well, and the count changed to no balls and two strikes.

92 pitches, I still have two bullets left.

On the other hand, the batter who is cornered with two strikes has only one chance left.

Maybe his head is full of thoughts of just fouling the ball off.

That’s why I need just one thing now.

I need a ball that can create a swing and a miss.

Nod

After signaling with the catcher, I started my windup.

I can’t help it if the runner on first tries to steal second. Now is the time to focus on the battle with the batter.

The body, which was running out of energy after throwing nearly 100 pitches, sends me a warning.

Don’t overdo it anymore.

It’s okay. I know from long experience that I can endure a little longer.

The runner on first, startled by the sudden windup, seemed to take a stance as if to run, but stopped.

Ignoring the runner, I threw a ball with everything I had towards the batter.

Whoosh

Wham!

Swing!

“Out!”

The number 105 mph was once again displayed on the Progressive Field scoreboard.

It was my best fastball of the day, recorded for the second time after the first inning.

“Holy Shit……!”

The batter who struck out looked blankly at the sky and retreated to the dugout.

Two outs, runner on first, 93 pitches.

I was running towards the end of today’s game.