Genius Pitcher Hides 170Km [EN]: Chapter 335

334. Oakland Series 4 (3)

While this season has brewed an intense rivalry, historically, Seattle and Oakland haven’t considered each other major rivals.

Isolated in the Northwest among the 30 Major League teams, Seattle initially lacked a natural rival.

The only team that consistently challenged them was the Yankees, who blocked their path in nearly every postseason from the late 1990s to the early 2000s, Seattle’s golden age.

Oakland was in a similar boat.

Back when they were based in Philadelphia, their rivals included the San Francisco Giants (with whom they had a contentious relationship), the LA Angels, and the Texas Rangers, all vying for divisional dominance.

Seattle, often seen as the underdog, was never really on Oakland’s radar as a rival.

However, this season, Oakland feels like it’s being deliberately targeted by Seattle.

It’s more than just the games themselves.

The bench-clearing brawl in the opening game derailed Desmond’s crucial season right before his free agency, and yesterday, the team’s leadoff hitter was hit by a pitch [a ball intentionally thrown at the batter].

While Desmond himself instigated the brawl in the opener, and yesterday’s hit-by-pitch seemed accidental, Desmond King, already simmering with anger, couldn’t let it go.

“Devin, Julio seems willing to move on, but I can’t stand it.”

“I feel the same way, but what can we do? We can’t exactly hit a pitcher who doesn’t bat. Wait a minute, don’t tell me…”

“Don’t tell me what?”

“You’re not thinking of hitting Han Su-hyeok, are you? Absolutely not. If we hit him in this climate, I won’t make it out of Seattle alive.”

Despite his sympathy for Desmond and their long friendship, he couldn’t bring himself to throw a beanball [a pitch deliberately aimed at the batter’s head] at Han Su-hyeok, who was just four home runs shy of breaking the single-season record and scheduled to start tomorrow, aiming for his 20th win.

He had to consider the Seattle fans packing T-Mobile Park and the baseball enthusiasts eager to catch his record-breaking home run ball.

“Damn it, I know. I’d love to nail that guy, but it’s not realistic. So, what can we do? They almost took out our team captain, so we have to target their veteran.”

“Then…?”

“Let’s teach that old-timer, Ty, a lesson. Damn it, now that I think about it, he might be the root of all this. Look at how those Seattle youngsters are running wild.”

“Retaliation is fine, taking the initiative is fine, everything’s fine, but Desmond…”

“But what?”

“Isn’t there a chance that Han Su-hyeok, that son of a bitch, might lose it again?”

“Pfft, you think a guy chasing a home run record, a 20-win season tomorrow, and a massive payday would risk it all by throwing a punch? No way. Relax. If he comes out, I’ll make sure to settle the score this time, so don’t worry.”

The words, ‘Didn’t you get your ass kicked last time after saying that, without even putting up a fight?’ nearly escaped Devin McPherson’s lips but he swallowed them back.

His longtime partner’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

Come to think of it, he had a point.

In the grand scheme, no rational person would jeopardize millions of dollars in potential earnings over something like this.

So, maybe today was the only chance to get even with that disgusting team and that crazy son of a bitch.

“Okay. I’m tired of watching those guys run all over us too.”

“Good call. Leave the aftermath to me, Devin. You’re a starting pitcher anyway. A few games’ suspension won’t hurt you much.”

* * *

In the first inning, Derek Fleming, Seattle’s lead-off hitter, braced himself.

He figured he might get hit by a pitch in retaliation for yesterday’s events.

Given the tense atmosphere, it seemed likely.

Plus, Desmond King, known as the league’s biggest hothead before Han Su-hyeok humbled him, was behind the plate for Oakland.

‘Hmm, if it’s just a glancing blow to the butt, maybe I should just take it and get it over with.’

Derek decided that if a hit on the rear could defuse the tension, he could endure it and stepped into his batting stance.

But,

Thwack!

“Out!”

Derek, who grounded out to second base after five pitches, looked at the pitcher, puzzled.

There was no beanball.

Something felt off, but he assumed his prediction was wrong.

When the next batter, Han Su-hyeok, flew out to center field, Derek finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He thought Oakland had chosen to focus on winning rather than escalating the emotional warfare.

That was until the pitcher hurled the ball toward Ty Johnson’s shoulder.

Thud!

“Aaaagh!”

Ty Johnson, usually unflappable, screamed and crumpled to the ground.

He was unlucky.

The 97-mile fastball struck the most sensitive and vulnerable finger on the hand he raised to protect himself from the shoulder-high pitch.

Derek, realizing his hunch was right all along, cursed and jumped to his feet, followed by the rest of the Seattle players charging the mound.

At that moment, Desmond King and Devin McPherson’s eyes locked onto a specific target, as if prearranged.

It was Han Su-hyeok, surrounded by coaches, yelling.

“You sons of bitches! I’m going to kill you!”

He was shouting at the top of his lungs, but Desmond and Devin’s eyes were filled with mockery.

They were convinced Han Su-hyeok was bluffing.

They couldn’t fathom that someone on the cusp of a record-breaking season and a potential 20-win milestone would throw it all away over something like this.

Confident that Han Su-hyeok wouldn’t retaliate, Desmond and Devin engaged in the physical altercation with the Seattle players.

The umpire rushed to restore order, and players clashed sporadically.

Desmond, pleased that his plan was working, smirked from the periphery of the brawl when,

“No! Catch him! Quick!”

“Stop Han! No!”

“Damn it, why is he so fast! Crazy!”

Somewhere, there was a crashing sound and the frantic shouts of Seattle coaches.

Desmond King, startled, quickly turned toward the commotion.

“Stop him! Derek! Stop Han!”

“No! Absolutely not! Don’t throw a punch here…”

Han Su-hyeok, having overpowered the coaches trying to restrain him, was charging forward like a wounded wild boar.

Desmond felt a chill run down his spine and scanned for his friend and partner, Devin.

His ominous premonition proved correct.

Devin McPherson stood helplessly in Han Su-hyeok’s path.

When the Seattle players around him began forming a protective wall, rather than trying to stop Han Su-hyeok,

Desmond understood the gravity of the situation.

And a moment later,

Thwack!

“Guaaaack!”

Han Su-hyeok, propelled by the momentum created by his teammates, landed a devastating blow to Devin McPherson’s jaw.

Devin McPherson, unable to even scream, spun around and collapsed, unconscious.

“Yes! That’s it! Get out of the way! I’m going too!”

“Oppa [term of endearment used by younger women to address older brothers or male friends]! Wait! I’m going!”

“Oakland, you sons of bitches! Yeah, I’ll show you the taste of my punch!”

“Shake it! Tear down the safety net!”

The Seattle fans, fueled by Han Su-hyeok’s outburst, began frothing at the mouth and scaling the safety nets.

The sight of dozens of spectators clinging to the netting was truly something to behold.

“Ah, uh, uh… This…”

Desmond King’s mind raced.

The thing he had dreaded had come to pass.

He couldn’t believe that a guy on the verge of such significant achievements would jeopardize everything for this.

‘First, to the dugout…!’

There was only one option left: escape.

The only way out of the stadium was through the dugout.

Desmond’s eyes darted toward the dugout.

But he would inevitably run headfirst into Han Su-hyeok, who was barreling toward him, and the Seattle players escorting him.

‘The outfield! Yeah, escape to the bullpen…’

He remembered the passage leading out from the bullpen on the far side of the outfield.

Making a snap decision, Desmond ripped off his mask and sprinted toward the outfield with all his might.

Now he understood.

That Han Su-hyeok was far more terrifying than he had imagined,

And that once enraged, he was a true madman who disregarded his performance and career.

‘Damn it, damn it!’

If he had known this would happen, he would never have acted so recklessly.

But there was no use in regretting it now.

Han Su-hyeok was chasing him with inhuman speed, and his teammates and umpires were too far away to intervene.

Now, all he could rely on was his legs.

“Ugh! It’s getting in the way!”

He tossed aside his chest protector, gaining a slight increase in speed.

After a desperate sprint, the outfield bullpen passage was just ahead.

This should be enough, he must have given up by now,

Desmond King glanced back unconsciously.

At that moment, stars exploded in his vision.

Thwack!

“Cough!”

It was Han Su-hyeok.

He didn’t know when he had caught up, but Han Su-hyeok punched Desmond King in the jaw and pinned him to the ground.

“Kuh-heuk, let, let go… Let go! You son of a…”

“I warned you last time, didn’t I? If you pull something stupid again, I’ll kill you.”

“…Kuh-heok, if you hit me here, the record and everything…”

“Record? Why are you worried about that, you son of a bitch? What you should be worried about now is whether you’ll be alive to see the sun tomorrow.”

“Let… Go…!”

“I’ll tell you one last time. Remember that if you dish out shit, you can expect to get shit in return. You son of a bitch.”

That was the last thing Desmond remembered.

With Han Su-hyeok’s voice, stars flashed before his eyes once more, and with that memory, Desmond’s consciousness faded completely.

“Heok, heok, heok, e-e-ejection…!”

“Get out of the way! Han! Han! Are you okay?”

“Protect that friend. Before the Oakland sons of bitches come!”

The umpire, arriving late, ejected Han Su-hyeok, and the Seattle teammates who followed him formed a protective circle around him.

At that moment,

Crash!

Rumble!

With the sound of something shattering and collapsing, the safety nets along the first and third baselines simultaneously gave way.

Hundreds of Seattle fans, with fire in their eyes, surged onto the field.

“Ugh! Run away! You son of a bitch!”

“Damn it! What the hell is going on!”

The Oakland players, who had been running toward Han Su-hyeok and Desmond, were horrified by the sight and sprinted toward their dugout with all their might.

The rivalry between the first and second place teams in the American League West Division had devolved into utter chaos.