Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 176

#175. The Final Battle

“Hey, Han Su-hyeok. Be honest with me.”

“About what?”

“My batting. What do you think the problem is?”

During spring training before the season, Ahn Chi-wook had the Warriors’ coaches worried sick, but now he had grown into a reliable starting third baseman for the team.

A batting average of .297, an on-base percentage of .341, a slugging percentage of .421, along with 11 home runs and 69 RBIs.

His error count, nearly double the league average, was a problem, but looking solely at his batting, he was easily among the top three third basemen in the league.

At the start of the season, Ahn Chi-wook’s goal was to surpass his peer, Han Su-hyeok.

However, after realizing how futile that delusion was, he immediately abandoned that dream and set a new goal.

To make the annoying Seo Hyeong-joo, who tormented him every day, look foolish.

Unfortunately, he failed to reach a .300 batting average due to exhaustion and injuries in the second half of the season, but Seo Hyeong-joo was in the same boat.

However, one thing that was still a problem was the direction of his batted balls, which were still concentrated between first and second base due to his batting mechanics.

All nine teams used defensive shifts [strategic positioning of fielders to cover likely hitting zones] when Ahn Chi-wook came to bat.

It was a miracle that he recorded a batting average close to .300 while facing such blatant defensive shifts.

Ahn Chi-wook asked Han Su-hyeok once again.

Similar conversations had taken place before, but they never found a solution.

Therefore, he didn’t have high expectations this time either.

However, Ahn Chi-wook just wanted to get advice from the strongest hitter he knew.

That’s right.

Ahn Chi-wook admired Han Su-hyeok, going beyond just acknowledging him.

“Ahn Chi-wook.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve said this before, but there’s no such thing as a right answer. If there were, the defensive shift would have disappeared already.”

“…Hmm.”

“But if you really want to hear my opinion… it’s much faster to break through it than to avoid it.”

“Break through it?”

“Create faster and stronger batted balls. What do you need to do for that?”

“…Increase training?”

“Correct.”

“Damn it.”

“In the end, nothing in this world is free, kid. Go swing your bat one more time instead of talking like this.”

* * *

After Jo Seong-oh’s RBI [Run Batted In] triple tied the game at 2-2, Walter Schmidt struck out against an underhand pitcher, putting a runner on third with one out.

The underhand pitcher, who had only faced Walter, was taken out, and a left-handed specialist came to the mound to face Ahn Chi-wook.

Stepping into the batter’s box, Ahn Chi-wook recalled what Han Su-hyeok had said before the game.

Stronger and faster.

In fact, he already knew that was the answer.

He just wanted to confirm it.

From Han Su-hyeok, his favorite teammate and a player he respected.

Ahn Chi-wook knew from experience that his words were always right when it came to baseball.

Increase the amount of practice even more.

Upgrade his current batting form, created with Jacob’s help, to the extreme.

Break through the 1-2 hole shift with power and speed.

‘What, it’s not a big deal?’

When he thought about it, it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Ahn Chi-wook, having cleared the clutter from his mind, glared at the opposing pitcher.

The score was tied 2-2 with one out and a runner on third.

All that was needed was a deep ground ball or a fly ball to the outfield to score, but the Incheon bench still put on the defensive shift.

The third baseman moved to shortstop position, and the shortstop moved right next to second base.

Three fielders were positioned between first and second base.

An extreme defensive shift to prevent a left-handed hitter from pulling the ball.

Han Su-hyeok’s words flashed through his mind once again.

Faster, stronger.

He wasn’t a home run hitter like Han Su-hyeok.

In the first place, the trajectory of his batted balls was far from that of a home run hitter.

The best play he could make right now was to create a strong and fast batted ball towards right field.

Swoosh.

The pitcher glanced at the runner on third and threw the first pitch to Ahn Chi-wook.

At the same time, Ahn Chi-wook’s bat swung powerfully.

The fastest and strongest swing to break through the 1-2 hole.

Thwack!

Ahn Chi-wook, who hit the ball with an intense cracking sound, and the Incheon fielders, who were crowded between first and second base, were both surprised at the same time.

Their gazes turned to somewhere simultaneously.

The batted ball flying over the right fielder’s head was going over the fence.

“Wooaaah!”

* * *

[Ahn Chi-wook’s two-run home run in the top of the 7th decides the game… 4-2, the Warriors win and the series is tied again]

[Ahn Chi-wook, who hit the game-winning home run: “Han Su-hyeok’s advice was a great help”]

[From an unknown player to a starter in the Korean Series, Cheon Sang-jin writes a new legend from the minors, earning his first Korean Series win with 7 innings and 2 runs allowed]

[Cheon Sang-jin, the winning pitcher of Game 4: “Baseball never leaves my mind for a moment. It might be a painful thing for some, but I enjoy it so much”]

[Han Su-hyeok, who reached base on a walk and showed destructive base running: “I’m proud of my Warriors teammates”]

[Kim Yong-jae, Incheon’s next-generation ace who pitched well with 7 innings and 2 runs allowed: “It’s frustrating, but I think that’s baseball”]

The Warriors, who were down 1-2, tied the series thanks to Cheon Sang-jin’s great pitching and Ahn Chi-wook’s unexpected home run in Game 4.

And after a day of rest, the two teams moved the stage to Jamsil Stadium [a famous baseball stadium in Seoul] and played Game 5.

The second match between Han Su-hyeok and Derrick Bell, following Game 1.

Some people said this:

Even if it’s Han Su-hyeok, isn’t it time for him to give up a run?

Isn’t it time for his 57-inning scoreless streak, which has been going on since the regular innings, to be broken?

To put it bluntly, that was just wishful thinking from Incheon fans.

Whoosh.

Boom.

“Swing! Out!”

In the top of the 9th, Incheon hitter Son Young-jin’s bat swung through the air on the last pitch thrown by Han Su-hyeok, and the game ended.

The Warriors won 1-0. It was the moment when they recorded a 3-2 series lead.

Now, only one win remained to reach the top of the Korean Series.

However, Han Su-hyeok’s expression, who had pitched a complete shutout in today’s game, was coldly hardened.

As soon as the game ended, Han Su-hyeok returned to the dugout and asked in an urgent voice.

“How is the senior?”

“Still, still under examination.”

As soon as starting pitcher Derrick Bell had trouble with his control in the 4th inning and gave up two consecutive walks, Incheon’s strong middle relief team took the mound.

While Incheon put five pitchers on the mound until the 8th inning, Han Su-hyeok was solely responsible for the Incheon hitters.

As the game remained tightly contested at 0-0, Jo Seong-oh stepped into the batter’s box in the Warriors’ attack in the bottom of the 8th, with a runner on third with two outs.

Thwack!

With a refreshing hitting sound, the batted ball flew over the second baseman’s base.

Incheon second baseman Son Jae-hoo managed to dig out the batted ball with all his might, which could have passed through.

“First! First!”

In the meantime, Seo Hyeong-joo, who was on third base, stepped on home, but the outcome at first base had not yet been decided.

Son Jae-hoo’s fast and accurate throw flew to first base.

And the veteran, who had bet everything for the team’s victory, ran towards first base with all his might.

“Kkeuaaa!”

With Jo Seong-oh’s shout, the safe call came from the first base umpire.

However, what was heard from the Warriors cheering section was not the fans’ cheers.

“What, what’s going on?”

“Is he hurt? Oh, no.”

“Captain! Hey, you, Jo Seong-oh! Get up! Get up!”

Jo Seong-oh, who had held his position as the starting first baseman for almost the entire season at a considerable age, was groaning while clutching his ankle.

Jo Seong-oh had been out of the lineup until recently due to problems with his back and ankle.

An ambulance came in and took Jo Seong-oh away, and the Warriors players fell into silence.

The only fortunate thing was that Han Su-hyeok was guarding the Warriors’ mound.

Han Su-hyeok’s pitching pattern changed in the top of the 9th inning.

Han Su-hyeok, who had been controlling his pace throughout the game as if aiming for a shutout, began to strike out the Incheon hitters as if he was venting his anger.

No one could touch Han Su-hyeok’s ball.

The crowd erupted in deafening cheers, but Han Su-hyeok had no interest in such things.

Following pitcher Lee Man-shik, the oldest player, this time captain Jo Seong-oh collapsed.

The diagnosis from the detailed examination was damage to the extensor retinaculum [tissue that holds tendons in place] of the right ankle.

In simple terms, the membrane surrounding the ankle tendons was torn.

It was a serious injury that required immediate surgery and at least four months of rehabilitation.

They sacrificed too much to win just one game.

In that way, the captain, the starting first baseman, and the core hitter who led the Warriors were excluded from the lineup.

The players who finished the game tried to run to the hospital, but Jo Seong-oh did not allow it.

The players couldn’t say anything to his message that what was important now wasn’t that.

The problem didn’t end there.

Ryan Stark, the foreign player who had been taken off the mound early in the second game due to a problem with his fingernail, eventually had another problem with his fingernail.

A completely split fingernail.

Ryan, who had a strong attachment to the team unlike other foreign players, said that he would put on an acrylic fingernail and play in the game, but Lee Dae-jun did not allow it.

Instead of doing such a barbaric thing that would have been done in the 80s, Lee Dae-jun changed his policy by moving up the starting pitcher’s appearance interval by one day and actively utilizing middle relief pitchers instead.

Brooks Parker, who had rested for three days since his last appearance, took the mound in Game 6.

The maximum number of innings given to him was 5 innings.

He, who was likely to advance to Japanese baseball after this season, did his best for the Warriors, who had allowed him to play for the past two years.

The Warriors fans gave a standing ovation to Brooks, who had washed away his poor performance of 5 and 1/3 innings and 3 runs allowed in the previous Game 3, and had only given up 1 point until the 5th inning today.

However, the god of baseball did not side with the Warriors.

In the top of the 8th inning, with the Warriors leading 4-1 thanks to Han Su-hyeok’s home run, Kim Doo-young, who had been performing perfectly as the Warriors’ setup man [a relief pitcher who typically pitches before the closer] throughout the season, allowed three consecutive hitters to reach base.

Yang Gi-cheol, who had quickly warmed up, took the mound, but

Thwack!

The moment Min Joo-hyun, the 5th hitter of the Incheon Rangers, swung his bat powerfully, the Warriors players’ heads dropped to the ground.

A grand slam home run.

That was the end of it.

In the bottom of the 8th and 9th innings, Incheon’s strong relief pitchers and closer Kwon Gil-yong silenced the Warriors’ lineup.

The Warriors hitters, who had lost Jo Seong-oh, who was the most reliable player after Han Su-hyeok and a mental pillar, failed to overcome that one-point difference in the end.

Incheon’s great come-from-behind victory with a score of 5-4.

And the series record was tied again at 3-3.

In an atmosphere that was so welcome from the KBO’s [Korean Baseball Organization] point of view, but terribly painful for the players and fans of both teams playing the game, the morning dawned again.

The day when Game 7 of the Korean Series was held,

The day that would determine the best professional baseball team in 2027.