On The Rise As A Catcher [EN]: Chapter 222

The game was tilting, but the Scorpions didn’t give up.

The bench signaled for an aggressive swing.

Mckenzie’s pitches were sharp today.

The Scorpions knew it, and Goat knew it well.

McKenzie pitched with ease, knowing that even just putting the ball in the strike zone would likely result in an out.

Swing fast and hard!

With a 7-point lead, there was less need to focus on simply getting on base for a single run.

There was more incentive to hit it far, like Goat often did.

Thwack!

Thwack!

Thwack!

The Scorpions’ offensive tempo was as fast as McKenzie’s quick pitching tempo.

McKenzie gave up consecutive hits due to the aggressive swings from the first pitch.

Of course, it wasn’t just hits he was giving up.

“The second baseman catches and tosses to the shortstop, who steps on second and throws to first! Double play! The Scorpions’ momentum is cut off here.”

“McKenzie’s strength is showing here. It’s characteristic of ground ball pitchers. Because there are many ground balls, there are also many double plays. Just one double play can halt the offensive flow. It’s a shame the Scorpions couldn’t capitalize here.”

Mckenzie got the next batter out, ending the inning.

Both teams were scoreless in the 4th and 5th innings.

It was fortunate for the Scorpions that Goat’s offensive flow was cut off, but the Scorpions also failed to change the momentum.

The scoreboard still read 8-1.

Just when it seemed the game would end like this, a new score broke out.

“Seol Jin-il solo homerun! 9-1. Seol Jin-il hits a solo homerun, extending their lead.”

“Seol Jin-il’s lightning swing on the first pitch. You know it’s coming, but you can’t help but fall for it. If you take the first pitch, you start with a ball [a count of 1-0], and if you swing, you get hit like that. Seol Jin-il isn’t just a bad ball hitter; he also has that one big hit in him. That’s why pitchers challenge him on the first pitch even though they know it’s coming.”

“Goat extends their lead again, pouring cold water on the Scorpions’ will to chase.”

The Scorpions made a pitching change.

The new pitcher was Seo Seong-gu.

He was a two-pitch right-handed relief pitcher with a fastball and a slider.

A typical right-handed fastball pitcher boasting a fast ball and a sharp slider.

Seo Seong-gu showed Kim In-hwan a fastball from the first pitch.

Kim In-hwan was faithful to the strategy of targeting a new pitcher’s first pitch.

Thwack!

“To center left! To center left! To center left! The ball is carrying deep! It’s gone! Kim In-hwan hits a back-to-back homerun! Kim In-hwan goes back-to-back! The score is 10-1! 10-1!”

“Kim In-hwan is really having a great game today. There’s a reason why the KS trio [Kim, Song, and Seol] exists. It’s no exaggeration to say they are the best cleanup hitters in the league. Today’s events will be hard for Scorpions fans to forget for a long time.”

Manager Lee Geon-hoo slammed his head against the chair in frustration.

The next batter was Song Seok-hyeon.

Seo Seong-gu walked Song Seok-hyeon after a full count battle [a count of 3 balls and 2 strikes].

He caught a break by getting a double play from Yoo Seon-ho.

The next batter was Choi Jae-wan.

When the slider Seo Seong-gu threw hung high, Choi Jae-wan immediately swung his bat.

“Over the fence~~~! Choi Jae-wan’s solo homerun! Goat’s homeruns are exploding today! No singles! Only homeruns! Goat’s lineup isn’t just a bomb, it’s a nuclear bomb. It boasts tremendous firepower. The score is now 11-1. A 10-point difference. A 10-point difference in the playoffs.”

“In fact, you can say that today’s game is over. Goat should now call in the starting players and start managing their stamina for future games.”

“The Scorpions, who dominated the league in the late 2000s, have had a hard time exerting their power since 2010. They are a team with a solid infield, an iron wall bullpen [a reliable group of relief pitchers], the league’s best table setter [a player who gets on base frequently] and genius hitter, and a RBI machine [a player who drives in runs], so they should be strong in short-term games, but they couldn’t perform in the playoffs.”

“When we say short-term game, don’t we usually think of a one-point or two-point fight? In fact, if you look at history, that’s often the case. But times have changed. Look at Goat. If it’s a team with a big hit potential like Goat, it can seize the momentum in an instant. In a short-term game, once you lose the atmosphere, it’s not easy to get it back. But Goat hits a homerun when you least expect it, so it runs away further before you can even try to regain the momentum.”

“I knew Goat’s KS trio was scary, but I didn’t know that these three players, Seol Jin-il, Yoo Seon-ho, and Choi Jae-wan, would be so active.”

“It’s synergy. If you avoid the KS trio, the game will inevitably be decided by the hitters in front and behind them. Seol Jin-il, Yoo Seon-ho, and Choi Jae-wan are also players who hit homeruns in Jamsil Stadium [a stadium known for being hitter-friendly]. Are the Daegu Stadium fence and the Jamsil fence the same? Because pitchers actively compete with these three hitters, these players have no reason to avoid swinging.”

“I thought the match between Goat and the Scorpions would be quite close since the Scorpions completely defeated the Wolves, but it turned out to be more one-sided than I thought.”

“As acting manager, Ham Seong-hoon is a novice manager, so I thought that manager Lee Geon-hoo, who is top-tier in the league in terms of bullpen management, would be able to handle Goat without difficulty, but even the iron wall bullpen could not stop the burning bats.”

11-1.

Bottom of the 6th inning.

Jo Yang-cheol called the players together before the Scorpions’ at-bat.

It was hard to find fighting spirit in the players’ eyes.

Due to the 10-point difference, not only the coaches but also the captain and veteran catcher Koo Seung-cheol didn’t bother to call the players together.

When Jo Yang-cheol, who was usually quiet, demanded a gathering, the players were puzzled but cautiously approached.

“Um.”

Jo Yang-cheol hesitated to speak after gathering the players.

“It seems useless to say anything lengthy. I’ll just say one thing.”

The players looked at Jo Yang-cheol with expectant eyes.

The message that was about to come out was a familiar one.

Let’s do it without regrets.

Let’s get at least one point.

Let’s have a good ending, etc.

A professional baseball player has played hundreds and thousands of games.

That meant they knew the clichés that would come out at this timing better than anyone else.

The story that came out of Jo Yang-cheol’s mouth was something no one expected.

“I can get to the plate at least twice now, and if I’m lucky, three times? Let me stand on the plate a lot. Let’s hit three more homeruns today.”

“…Huh?”

It was a statement from Jo Yang-cheol, who was usually quiet and introverted.

The players looked at each other, wondering if what they heard was correct.

“We can’t just lose when we lose. Do you think only they can hit homeruns? We can also hit homeruns. All I can do is hit homeruns. So give me a chance, a chance to hit homeruns. I’ll try to hit homeruns somehow.”

The players chuckled at the unexpected statement.

Jo Yang-cheol is being greedy?

The first to react was Kang Kyun-seung.

“Okay. I’ll somehow get on base and create an opportunity to score, so you can hit one.”

Jeong Dae-han also added.

“I’ll get out even if I have to bunt.”

“Hey, hey, bunting is not allowed. We can’t increase the out count.”

“I mean making a hit with a bunt.”

“Oh, are you confident?”

“Of course!”

“When did you start saying ‘of course’? Oh, you young man smell old.”

The players giggled and laughed.

Jo Yang-cheol showed the players his biceps.

“I’m not confident in reversing the game, but I’m confident in hitting a homerun. I’ll try hard to hit a homerun.”

“Okay. I’ll try hard to get a hit.”

“I’ll add one too.”

“Okay. It’s the end anyway, so let’s do what we have to do. Well, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work.”

Bottom of the 6th inning, the Scorpions’ at-bat.

Ham Seong-hoon ordered the bullpen pitchers to loosen their shoulders.

The lead batter for the Scorpions was Kang Kyun-seung.

McKenzie threw a fastball that nearly hit the batter.

Thwack!

Kang Kyun-seung didn’t shake his head even though he let go of the bat with one hand.

“Kang Kyun-seung gets a hit. Technically, he guides the ball to the outfield.”

“That was definitely a technically high-level hit. It was a hit that focused on getting on base without being too greedy, using a short and concise swing. Getting on base is important. You have to get on base to do anything, right?”

McKenzie smacked his lips.

It was a well-placed ball, but the batter hit it well.

Not just anyone can have the title of most hits.

“Should we change him?”

Goat’s pitching coach Yeon Woo-sik asked Ham Seong-hoon.

Ham Seong-hoon hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

“It’s not a long hit, and the next batter is Jeong Dae-han. He’s a left-handed hitter, right? Let’s see if Jeong Dae-han gets a hit or not and then decide.”

“Yes. I understand.”

McKenzie threw consecutive fastballs inside as if to vent his anger at the previous hit.

1-1.

On the third ball, Kang Kyun-seung ran to second base.

-Safe!

“Stolen base success. Kang Kyun-seung stole a base with a 10-point difference.”

“Was it really necessary to steal a base with such a big score difference? If you fail to steal a base, you’re just increasing the out count by one. Of course, it’s good to prevent a double play, but Song Seok-hyeon is up next, so why steal a base? McKenzie isn’t paying attention at all right now, so he succeeded, but I don’t think it’s a good attempt.”

2-1.

McKenzie aimed for the end of the batter’s bat with a cutter.

Jeong Dae-han held back his swing, making it 2-2.

Timing for the showdown.

Song Seok-hyeon signaled for a changeup.

The ball that McKenzie confidently threw dropped at the batter’s waist height.

The drop was good, but Jeong Dae-han’s swing was sharp.

“It’s going! It’s going! It’s going! Left field fence! It’s gone! Jeong Dae-han’s two-run shot! Although late, the Scorpions are chasing 2 points in the bottom of the 6th inning! The score is 11-3. An 8-point difference, but the Scorpions are finally starting to fight back.”

“The score difference is big, but it’s good to seize the momentum.”

Ham Seong-hoon touched his forehead.

“Pitcher change is really not easy. Let’s change the pitcher. Let’s go with Baek Chan-i.”

The next batter was Jo Yang-cheol.

As soon as Lee Baek-chan came out, he threw a fastball to the outside, trying to make a quick out.

Jo Yang-cheol swung with all his might, his muscles bulging.

“It’s high! It’s high! It’s high! It’s high! Is it going over? It’s gone! Back-to-back! Jo Yang-cheol’s back-to-back homerun! The score is 11-4! The score difference is still big, but the Scorpions are starting to fight back. Homerun for homerun! Strength for strength! The Scorpions prove that they also have homerun hitters! Jeong Dae-han and Jo Yang-cheol go back to back!”

“The score difference is still big, but if the central hitters do this, you really don’t know what will happen in baseball. 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th innings. There are four more offensive chances left? Then you really don’t know. You just don’t know.”

Jo Yang-cheol, who hit a homerun, smiled at Jeong Dae-han.

“Hey, I have to score, but what are you doing hitting it?”

Jeong Dae-han scratched the back of his head.

“I’ll just step on the base quietly next time.”

“Quietly what. Hit the ball so hard that it breaks next time too. What do we have to lose?”

It was still a 7-point difference, but the consecutive homeruns were enough to shift the atmosphere.

While the Scorpions fans were excitedly singing their cheer song, the 6th inning ended.

Top of the 7th inning, Goat’s at-bat.

The Scorpions fans’ exciting cheer song soon subsided.

The lead batter for Goat was Kim In-hwan.

Song Seok-hyeon was waiting in the on-deck circle, tilting his head from side to side.

“It’s creepy, it’s creepy. Can’t someone get rid of them quickly?”

Contrary to the Scorpions fans’ earnest wishes, the pitcher walked Kim In-hwan [intentionally walked him by throwing four balls outside the strike zone].

And the batter who came up was Song Seok-hyeon.

The Scorpions bench changed the pitcher, and the Scorpions fans put their hands together in prayer.

Successive rise as a catcher

Domino effect

Thwack.

Song Seok-hyeon hooked the ball that was coming outside and sent it to center left.

Kim In-hwan to 3rd base, Song Seok-hyeon to 2nd base.

No outs, runners on 2nd and 3rd.

The next batter was Yoo Seon-ho.

‘Showdown.’

The bench’s sign was a showdown with Yoo Seon-ho [to pitch to him rather than intentionally walk him].

The next batter, Choi Jae-wan, is also in good condition in this playoff.

Normally, they would use a bases-loaded strategy [intentionally walk the batter to load the bases], but with the score difference widening, there was no room to use a bases-loaded strategy.

The pitcher was Yoon In-seok.

Yoo Seon-ho also knew him well as a junior.

He was originally a starting pitcher, but now he is a pitcher who appears when he needs to eat innings [pitch for a long period to save the bullpen].

He was a three-pitch pitcher with a fastball, curve, and splitter, and his speed and control were all above average.

-Ball.

“2-2. Yoo Seon-ho is picking the ball well.”

“Yoon In-seok, your control is getting a little high now. You need to lower it more.”

Yoo Seon-ho shook his shoulders slightly.

Objectively, Yoon In-seok is a decent pitcher without any major weaknesses.

The reason why this pitcher couldn’t get into the starting rotation was due to the Scorpions’ depth, but…

When Yoon In-seok threw the ball, Yoo Seon-ho swung his bat.

Thwack!

“Left field fence! It’s going! It’s going! It’s going! Yoo Seon-ho’s three-run homerun! Another three-run homerun explodes! 14-4. 14-4! The score widens again to a 10-point difference!”

“Yoo Seon-ho aimed properly. It was a splitter? It’s a difficult ball, but he timed it well and hit it.”

Yoo Seon-ho headed to first base without looking at Yoon In-seok.

Yoon In-seok is a textbook pitcher.

If he could change just 1 inch, just 1 inch more, he could become an A-class pitcher, but he couldn’t overcome the 1 inch difference, which was only a fingernail’s difference.

Lack of a finishing pitch.

Neither the curve nor the splitter was bad, but it was an easy target for hitters with good eye and timing like Yoo Seon-ho.

“…Hehe.”

Even manager Lee Geon-hoo, who had maintained his composure, covered his face.

14-4.

Even in the regular season, this kind of crushing defeat is rare.

It’s even more unfamiliar because the Scorpions’ pitching staff is not inferior to any team.

A score difference that not only breaks the will to chase but also pours cold water on it.

Jeong Dae-han and Jo Yang-cheol created opportunities by hitting consecutive homeruns, but there were no follow-up hits.

It was thanks to Goat changing pitchers whenever there was a scoring chance.

The game is in the bottom of the 9th inning.

At a score of 14-4, Hwang Ki-deok came up as the lead batter.

Goat put Kim Jeong-ryul on the mound.

Whack!

Whack!

Two consecutive fastballs for strikes.