Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 334

#333. Oakland Series 4th Game (2)

Every country has different races, languages, customs, and cultures, but some things are universal.

One of those universals is the prevalence of proverbs about misfortune.

Misfortunes always come in groups; when it rains, it pours. If misfortune strikes once, be careful not to invite more. These sayings highlight how bad luck often compounds itself.

Like Oakland’s starting catcher, Desmond King, who endured two double plays, a critical fielding error that contributed to the team’s defeat, and an injury after being hit in the groin protector.

“Argh! Don’t touch me!”

“Easy, Desmond. You’re alright. Just a bit stunned. Apply the ice pack, and you’ll be fine in the morning.”

“Fucking bastards…….”

Two years in the minor leagues and nearly seven back in the majors,

Desmond King had experienced a lot in baseball, but never such an unlucky day.

The double play in the first inning, which could have been a timely hit, was only the beginning.

A breathless slugfest dragged on until the eighth inning.

When the ball he hit with the bases loaded and one out was snagged by Han Su-hyeok’s glove again,

‘Fucking…….’

Desmond King cursed the god he believed in for the first time, questioning why he was being subjected to such torment by having that bastard in the same division.

God remained silent.

Instead, as if angered by his rebellion, he delivered an even greater ordeal.

“Ugh…!”

“Hey, man! You okay? You alive? Breathe! Breathe!”

In the bottom of the ninth, another trial awaited Desmond, who had already recorded two double plays in critical situations.

The foul ball off Derrick’s bat struck him in a sensitive area, forcing him to retreat to the dugout with the coach’s assistance.

And there, he had to watch helplessly as Han Su-hyeok hit a walk-off single.

Tta-aak!

– That’s it! It’s over! This long, drawn-out match concludes with Seattle’s victory! Han Su-hyeok’s hit lands where no one can reach it!

– The camera focuses on Oakland’s Desmond King. That player has certainly had a rough day. It’s okay; these things happen. One wonders if his groin is alright.

– So, Seattle wins today’s game. It was a fantastic match. Steve, see you tomorrow.

Seattle claimed victory after a three-and-a-half-hour battle, while Desmond King became the scapegoat and laughingstock for the loss.

[Seattle wins 8-7 with a walk-off hit after a fielding error in the bottom of the 9th with two outs]

[Han Su-hyeok, who had two hits and three RBIs without a home run, said, “The team won, so nothing else matters. I’ll give it my all tomorrow, too.”]

[Seattle rookie Samuel Ramos, who earned his first win after being called up to the expanded roster, said, “I’m still in shock. But when Han Su-hyeok, the player I admire most, congratulated me after the game, it finally hit me that I’d become a winning pitcher. Despite the slight age difference, I sincerely respect him as a pitcher.”]

[Seattle, riding a four-game winning streak, will aim for their fifth with Ryan Tibo as their starting pitcher]

[Oakland fans, furious at the team’s defeat, commented, “Anyone who watched the game knows it was all Desmond King’s fault. We need to reconsider his free agent (FA) contract. We should let him go and sign someone else.” Fierce criticism ensued]

[Desmond King, who was helped off the field after being hit in the groin protector in the bottom of the 9th, suffered no serious injuries and is expected to play in tomorrow’s game. Oakland fan club mocks, “Fucking, he must have strong balls for nothing.”]

“Fuck!”

In his empty hotel room, Desmond King, lying with an ice pack on his groin, hurled his smartphone away.

* * *

“Han, I really respect you. It was all thanks to you yesterday.”

“Hey, how old do you think we are? You don’t need to be so formal.”

“No, age has nothing to do with baseball. Anyway, I’ll never forget becoming a major league winning pitcher yesterday.”

“Hmm.”

Samuel Ramos, called up in September as part of the expanded roster and who became the winning pitcher after pitching 1/3 of an inning in yesterday’s game, followed me around with shining eyes.

A left-handed pitcher with a 98-mph fastball and a decent curveball, rated 60 on the 20-80 scouting scale [a common scale used by baseball scouts to evaluate players].

The guy who blossomed after being traded to Boston before regressing was looking at me with respectful eyes, his face still showing his rookie status.

His carefully chosen words, as if addressing a superior, felt a bit much.

I felt like I’d gain another baby bird if I nodded.

Of course, that depended on whether he stayed on the roster.

“Hehe, why don’t you just accept it? It’s not the first time.”

“That’s the problem—it’s not the first time.”

“Is that so? Haha, well, you’ll have to get used to it. All the hitters and pitchers in the minor leagues are watching you. Damn, makes me feel like a has-been.”

Tye Johnson, seemingly in better spirits after playing yesterday, patted me and Samuel on the shoulder as he walked by.

A junior who respects or looks up to me.

Come to think of it, there were guys like that back in Korea, too.

Choi Ma-ru, Park Dong-seok, Choi Jae-min,

The guys who had already outgrown their rookie status and become central figures for the Warriors.

“By the way, Han, are you going back to Korea after the season?”

“Hmm… I was planning to just train in the States, but I think I’ll have to go back for a bit.”

* * *

Seattle’s starting pitcher, Ryan Tibo, versus Oakland’s, Devin McPherson.

Based on season stats alone, Ryan Tibo had the edge, but both were considered top pitchers in the league.

With those two facing off, the 11th game of the season between Seattle and Oakland began.

“Play!”

Jim Brown, who played with a sore toe in yesterday’s game, was given a day off. Henry Hernandez, recently added to the confirmed roster, started in left field, completing Seattle’s best possible lineup.

Ryan, reassured by his teammates, threw a powerful first pitch.

Paang

“Strike!”

Matt Robinson, Oakland’s leadoff hitter who was hit by a pitch and replaced early in yesterday’s game, lacked power but excelled at getting on base.

When the count was unfavorable, he’d try to slap the ball for an infield hit, a slightly old-school leadoff type.

Ryan decided to attack this type of hitter aggressively and nodded at the catcher’s sign for a fastball inside.

Paang

“Strike!”

Powerful pitches entered the strike zone without a single waste pitch.

Matt Robinson frowned, called time, and stepped out of the batter’s box.

He removed and replaced his batting gloves, checked Seattle’s infield positioning again,

Matt Robinson, prepared, cautiously resumed his batting stance.

Intending to swing if the ball came in a similar location,

But,

Ryan Tibo was in top form today.

Buung

Puh-eong

“Swing! Out!”

Matt Robinson’s bat swung through the air at a splitter that looked like a fastball until it dropped sharply near home plate.

Ryan Tibo, securing one out in just three pitches, decided to attack the next batter quickly as well.

‘Again? He’ll be expecting it.’

‘Doesn’t matter. My stuff is unhittable today.’

‘Alright, Ryan. Let’s go.’

Ryan and Bruce, having worked together for years, understood each other perfectly.

Ryan thought that if his friend became a free agent (FA) and transferred to another team, he would feel empty.

Leonard Jones was showing promise as a catcher, but he couldn’t replace his old friend, who had grown up with him since his rookie days.

Ryan shook his head to clear his thoughts and threw a cut fastball that dove into the lowest part of the strike zone against Oakland’s second batter.

The batter flinched, then swung, resulting in a weak ground ball to the third baseman, adding another out.

Oakland’s captain and league’s top first baseman, Julio Peña, stepped up to the plate.

* * *

“Hey, is Desmond okay?”

“He’s fine; he’s starting today, right? Thanks for asking.”

“Of course. Our bodies are our livelihood. No one wants to get hurt.”

“I agree.”

Generally, the players of the two teams were eager to beat each other, but as everywhere, there were exceptions.

Bruce, who didn’t even want to talk to most of the other guys, was an exception with Julio Peña.

No, it wasn’t just Bruce.

Few people disliked Julio Peña, who frequently participated in charity work and always maintained good sportsmanship.

Bruce glanced at Julio and carefully signaled Ryan.

‘We have to be careful with this guy. Let’s try to bait him with this pitch first.’

‘Good idea.’

Ryan nodded, and a 96-mph two-seam fastball flew from his fingertips.

A sharp pitch that seemed to graze the outside edge of the strike zone.

“Ball.”

But Julio’s bat didn’t move, and the umpire called a ball.

‘It was a ball, but a good one. This time, low.’

Nod.

Ryan nodded at Bruce’s instruction to throw it as low as possible, even if it bounced.

Until last season, the splitter was almost unusable in a game, but Ryan, inspired by Han Su-hyeok’s pitching, focused on perfecting it, turning it into a new weapon.

Shuung

Buung

“Swing!”

As expected,

Julio swung at the splitter, which dropped rapidly in front of home plate.

The count was one ball and one strike.

Bruce, considering another bait pitch, quickly changed his mind, thinking about Ryan’s form today.

He decided his role was to help him maintain his rhythm on days when he was throwing so well.

‘High fastball, inside.’

Nod.

A high fastball, a weakness for Julio Peña, who liked to swing upward, could result in a strikeout if executed properly.

Ryan, feeling in sync with his catcher, started his windup with excitement.

He aimed to throw the fastest and strongest pitch he could muster.

But,

The desire to throw the perfect pitch disrupted Ryan’s balance, and the ball, released with a shaky point, flew slightly off target.

Puh-eong

“Ball.”

The ball sailed high and inside.

Julio, startled, stepped back to avoid the pitch. Realizing there was no malice in the pitcher’s expression, he returned to the plate without a word.

Shuung

Tta-aak!

Eventually, Julio grounded out to the first baseman, ending Oakland’s attack in the top of the first inning.

Ryan, after throwing the ball, gestured an apology for almost hitting him, and Julio understood, letting the situation pass without incident.

Therefore, no one made an issue of what had just happened.

Except for one person,

Except for Desmond King, who was staring intently at the pitcher from the on-deck circle.