Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 251

“How’s the locker room atmosphere? What’s Hansuhyuk’s condition after missing the record? Will there be any lineup changes tomorrow?”

“We won, and the players are united as the Mariners. Need I say more?”

Benjamin Reynolds, appearing for the post-game interview, answered reporters with a stern face.

Despite the home fans’ fervent support, the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies’ first game ended with a 5-2 victory for the visiting Mariners.

A two-run home run by Ty Johnson in the first inning, followed by a run manufactured through teamwork in the second, put the Mariners ahead.

The Phillies, conceding three early runs, fought to catch up, but Hansuhyuk on the mound proved unyielding.

Phillies batters swung in vain as the 5th inning turned to the 6th, then the 7th, 8th, and finally the 9th.

“Goddamn it…”

“Is that even possible? Is he even human?”

“Why did we lose such a guy to Seattle? What the hell is this team’s front office doing?”

The Phillies fans, who had hurled curses and jeers throughout the game, slowly fell silent.

The perfect game streak continued to the bottom of the 9th with two outs.

A second chance to achieve baseball immortality since the last game against the Yankees.

Hansuhyuk, who had added two more home runs in today’s at-bats and played spectacularly, faced the Phillies’ ninth batter, the potential final out for the record.

“Damn it, do something! You sons of bitches!”

“If we lose like this, I’ll burn down the stadium! You goddamn bastards!”

The ninth batter stood frozen, overwhelmed by the home crowd’s animosity.

The jeering fans, the anxious Phillies’ dugout, and the petrified batter – all were gripped by despair. There seemed no escape.

Hansuhyuk’s first pitch hurtled toward the batter.

A cutter [a type of fastball that breaks sharply] with a sharp angle, curving from the center of the strike zone to the outside corner.

The batter, recoiling, swung wildly, making weak contact. The resulting ground ball barely qualified as a hit.

Tick.

“Yes!”

“Damn it! No!”

An easy ground ball headed for the shortstop.

Just as cheers for the impending record achievement were about to erupt from the Mariners’ dugout,

A miracle for one, misfortune for another.

“Ugh!”

“Good! Run! Run!”

“That’s it! It’s not over yet!”

The baseball slipped through shortstop Josh Oliver’s legs.

Josh Oliver’s face paled as he muffed the routine ground ball, triggering a cacophony of jeers and cheers from the Phillies’ faithful.

Hansuhyuk’s second attempt at a major league perfect game ended anticlimactically.

“Time!”

Benjamin Reynolds strode to the mound.

“Damn it, Champ, you okay?”

“I’m fine, Manager.”

“Whew… Okay, the next pitcher’s ready. Should I pull you?”

“No, one batter left. I’ll finish it.”

“Okay, signal immediately if anything’s wrong.”

He tried to sound reassuring, but a tremor betrayed the manager’s voice.

The infielders gathered around the mound, Josh Oliver at the back, face buried in his glove.

Hansuhyuk addressed the distraught shortstop.

“Hey, Josh. What’s wrong? The error? Hmm, saying it’s okay won’t help. You probably can’t even hear me right now. Okay, let’s finish the game first. Why’s everyone staring? Back to your positions. Let’s get out of this madhouse.”

The pitcher, robbed of a historic achievement, instead encouraged his teammate, sending him back to his position.

It was a touching display.

If things had ended there, the reporters wouldn’t have asked such pointed questions.

However, misfortune often comes in waves.

The perfect game was gone, but the no-hitter [a game in which a team does not record a single hit] remained.

The Phillies’ first batter, looking ashen, stepped into the batter’s box.

He closed his eyes and swung at the first pitch.

Knowing he couldn’t aim effectively, he left it to chance.

But,

Clang!

Baseball is a cruel mistress.

The ball, elusive when sought, found the bat’s path.

“Wow!”

“Yeah! Fucking! That’s it! Good!”

“Let’s turn this around! He’s not invincible!”

Hansuhyuk’s first home run and first run allowed in his major league career.

The 55-inning scoreless streak shattered.

“I heard about the disputes in the locker room during spring training and the four-game series against Texas. Will today’s game affect the locker room atmosphere?”

A reporter dogged Benjamin Reynolds, who wanted to end the interview and return to the locker room.

It was the Yankees’ beat reporter [a journalist assigned to cover a specific team].

A team with simmering animosity toward Seattle since the season’s start. Perhaps the reporter wanted to undermine Seattle, a potential championship rival.

Realizing the persistence, Benjamin fixed the reporter with a stare.

“Hey, you, reporter. Yes, you. What story are you chasing so hard?”

“What? Watch your mouth! You know how long I’ve been doing this?”

“You watch your mouth. Yeah, maybe you want to hear that Hansuhyuk, robbed of a record and his streak, is strangling the teammate who made the error.”

“What nonsense? I’m just trying to report the truth to the fans…”

The other reporters, sensing a story, edged closer as the Seattle manager and the Yankees’ reporter began to spar.

Seeking new angles in the confrontation.

Ignoring the press, Benjamin Reynolds continued, agitated.

“Listen up, all of you. Today, two great records fell. The perfect game, gone with two outs in the ninth, and the 55-inning scoreless streak. The error by our shortstop contributed, undeniably. Josh Oliver is hurting and has apologized to Hansuhyuk.”

“Ha, anyone can say that…”

“Don’t interrupt. Here’s my point. There are two types of superstars – players who lead with skill or reputation. Does anyone not know centrifugal and centripetal force?”

The reporters exchanged glances and shrugged.

“Okay, for those pretending, centrifugal force is the outward force from the center of a circle. Centripetal force is the inward force maintaining circular motion.”

“Hey! We’re not students! What is this, a lecture?”

“Fine, I explained in case you were ignorant. Back to superstars. Baseball is full of talented players lacking personality or leadership. The red-faced reporter knows this best. The one with the Yankees…”

“Shut up! I’ll sue you!”

“Sue me. When such terrible guys are at the team’s core, centrifugal force takes over. The team splinters, divided by outward forces. Like the team you cover.”

“Damn it, you’ve crossed the line. You’ve insulted the Yankees, my paper, and me.”

“Leave if you can’t handle it. Hansuhyuk is twenty-three, a major league rookie. But!”

Benjamin Reynolds slammed the table.

“He has the strongest centripetal force I’ve ever seen. Teammates gravitate to him, becoming one. The internal division you crave? Nonexistent. Josh Oliver, who erred, and Hansuhyuk, who lost a record, will dine at Philadelphia’s finest steakhouse, arm in arm. We’ll provide security. So listen closely. I won’t tolerate attempts to destabilize Seattle. Sue me, you idiot. I’m ready.”

* * *

[Two records broken, second perfect game attempt, 55 scoreless innings, but Mariners win 5-2]

[Hansuhyuk, 2 HRs, complete game, 2 unearned runs, 7th win. Regrets? “Of course, but my teammates matter more. I hope Josh isn’t too upset. I can chase records later, but good teammates are rare.”]

[Josh Oliver, critical error: “I apologized, and Hansuhyuk gave me an apple, saying it was a Korean apology. The joke wasn’t funny… but I teared up at his thoughtfulness. He’s not just a rookie, he’s a leader.”]

[Mariners praise Hansuhyuk’s leadership: “He inspires me. His words resonate. He’s young, but I respect him.”]

[Best batter-pitcher in the league, also a dugout leader? A boon for Seattle]

[Anonymous Mariners source: “Hansuhyuk and Josh Oliver argued after the game. This will negatively impact the locker room.”]

└Hello, Red Sox fan here. For the other 29 teams, the guy pushing the locker room division is a malicious Yankees paparazzi for 20 years. The Seattle source lives in his head, trying to undermine Seattle. Don’t fall for it.

└Damn, 7-0? .400 average? 19 home runs? More wins than our 1st and 2nd starters combined, more home runs than our 3rd, 4th, and 5th hitters? Are you kidding?

└Which team are you a fan of?

└Marlins

└Condolences. Hansuhyuk is the best player right now. Never thought I’d envy Seattle.

└He’s great, but Seattle won’t win the championship. The team’s weaknesses will show. But I agree, I’m jealous. They’ll be the best in the AL in a few years.

└Best in the AL? No player is bigger than the team. Individual strength has limits.

└Yankees fan alert. Ignore him. I’m a Phillies fan who was there. The atmosphere was intense. The Seattle shortstop was almost crying. But that night, I saw him and Hansuhyuk eating Thomas’s burgers and laughing. I would have killed the shortstop. The Yankees reporter’s article is fabricated.