Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 45

It wasn’t long after we were jointly ranked 5th with Sungwoon that the team failed to climb any higher. After reaching that peak, we slipped and fell to 6th place in no time.

Then, in the midweek 3-game series against Dongsung, we swept all three games, barely reclaiming our 5th place spot in the league.

It would be great if this spot were ours alone, but Sungwoon didn’t give way so easily.

Once again, tied for 5th place.

After securing at least a minimal position, we faced the league’s absolute powerhouse, the Sangsoo Tigers, in a weekend 3-game series.

Perhaps as a side effect of pouring everything out in the game against Dongsung, Tae-woong started today.

He usually gives up a lot of runs, but he also pitches a lot of innings. Today, it was particularly bad.

Seven runs.

He gave up those runs before the 5th inning was even over, and after struggling to finish that inning, he was replaced by me in the 6th, leaving three runners on base.

While Tae-woong was getting hammered, our team’s batting lineup was diligently trying to catch up.

We kept pace with Tae-woong’s runs allowed, but we seemed to lack a bit of stamina, and our score remained at 6 points.

In that situation, I came to the mound.

At bat was the 5th hitter, Ha Hae-jin. It feels a bit awkward to have Park Hae-jin standing behind me.

He’s always hitting home runs against me, so I don’t think I’ve ever pitched with him as a runner on base.

Can I at least take comfort in the fact that it’s a 2-out situation?

“Strike!”

To be honest, I wish another pitcher was throwing instead of me. It’s a bit early in the game for me to be coming out.

But the other main relievers, seniors Choi Eun-gu and Shin Kyung-seok, both pitched in all three games during the midweek series.

Looking at the game internally, Ji-ho could come out, but looking at it externally, we absolutely have to win today.

“Strike, two!”

The two seniors’ three consecutive appearances played a big role in sweeping the series against Dongsung. So did the good pitching of our team’s 1st, 2nd, and 3rd starters.

I’m hoping that Dongsung, who got slapped around by us, will take it out on Sungwoon, who they’re facing from today.

“Low ball.”

No, that’s not enough. If we lose today, even if Sungwoon loses, it’ll still be the same.

Sungwoon has to lose, and we have to win. That’s the only way to turn things around.

“Swing, out!”

The manager must have felt the same way, as he quickly decided to put me in.

Five and two-thirds innings, with three runners left on base, Tae-woong’s pitch count was 108.

He must have judged that it would be difficult to prevent further runs after seeing the strong hits from the previous two batters.

After patting the back of the gloomy-faced guy coming down, the mound I came up to was clean.

My mission for today: three innings plus.

Number 4 hitter, center fielder Park Jin-hyung.

The stadium announcer’s emotionless announcement was made, but our dugout was hot.

But my gaze, sitting in the dugout and looking at the field, was closer to the stadium announcer than to my teammates. Quietly, without a word, I watched our team’s offense.

Strikeout, hit, walk, double play.

When all three red lights came on [meaning three outs, ending the inning], I took off my jacket without hesitation and headed to the mound.

“…Quest.”

Dding!

[Multi-Inning]

– Hold them to within 1 run allowed. (0/1)

– Reward: Sinker +2

If I hold them to within 1 run allowed, our team will have allowed 8 runs.

We’ve scored 6 points so far, but if our batting lineup, which is slowly coming to life, can score at least three more points…

One point. One point is okay, I thought. But my mind quickly changed with the addition of the last line.

[Special Reward!]

– Achieve a shutout / winning pitcher and acquire a random trait!

In fact, whether my sinker stat goes up or not wasn’t important. Looking at it more broadly, the win or loss of this game also… Ah, it is important. But let’s look at it more broadly.

Trait.

The increase of 1 in my fastball stat gave me a new world, and the large increases in the stats I gained after that made me the king of that world. A trait that gives me wings on top of that.

Detachment, Discomfort.

Being able to maintain my mentality in any hit or situation was a huge help to a pitcher.

Even with our team’s mistakes, even with the opponent’s home runs. A very big helper that allowed me to steadily go my own way.

0. 01, 0.01km, Discomfort, which creates a very small gap in the world of professionals where life and death can be decided by half a step rather than a full step, also played a role.

Of course, whether I can squeeze into that gap or not is a matter of my own ability, but the league’s top-level control made it possible.

Another one of these traits!

What was it, those temporary traits that came out before? Was it Overwhelming or Special Grade? I wish something like that would pop up.

“Hoo…”

It’s the same appearance as before, but I was nervous for no reason because of the bigger reward than before.

Let’s stop them.

With a determined expression, I stepped onto the plate. Shin Heon-cheol came to bat.

As the most important catcher in Sangsoo, the absolute powerhouse of the league, I can’t help but be nervous.

Just him. If I can stop just him, the next one will be relatively easier.

“Swing!”

A curveball that I thought about and threw from the first pitch resulted in a swing that was way too early. After catching the ball, I shook my head at the splitter and chose a sinker inside.

“Ball!”

He picked out a ball that was just outside the zone without even flinching.

“First!”

He lightly touched the next splitter I threw and grounded out to second base. Thanks to that, the tension that had been building up while facing this batter, and even before that, was slightly relieved.

After easily getting rid of the 7th and 8th batters, I went back to the dugout.

Like a machine, I put on my jacket and looked around the field again. After Sung-moon grounded out to second, Gyu-hak hit a rare double.

Hoon hit a consecutive hit, but Gyu-hak, who is slow, naturally stopped at 3rd base.

“…Hit.”

Ttaak!

“He hit it!”

But…

Unfortunately, a fly ball to center field.

But because it was a deep hit that allowed Gyu-hak, who is slow, to easily enter home, and because we were tied, for now.

I felt a sense of relief in one corner of my heart. Unfortunately, Sung-hyun, who came up next, was out, and I felt a great sense of disappointment.

I feel like the Detachment trait isn’t working today. Should I suppress my emotions with my own ability, rather than borrowing the power of the trait?

No. That’s how it should be in the first place.

Yes, back to normal.

Number 9 hitter, Min!! Jong!! Hyeon!!

The stadium announcer’s loud voice announcing the appearance of the home hitter. And the home fans responding to it.

I’m envious today for some reason. I feel intimidated today for some reason. Is it because the pressure is high?

“Hoo.”

A short breath slightly calmed the trembling.

Hoo.

Casually, with an indifferent expression, I looked at Gyu-hak. I nodded at the fastball sign and wound up.

“Swing!”

A cool swing came out, as if he had a plan. Sangsoo is doing clean baseball even with the 9th hitter. They make it impossible to let your guard down even with the 9th hitter.

I threw a fastball for the first pitch, so I want to throw a splitter next. But Gyu-hak’s sign was another fastball. This time, a fastball that goes out a little more to the outside.

“Ball—”

Let’s follow Gyu-hak’s thoughts. I can’t do it with my own thoughts right now.

I decided that it would be better to follow Gyu-hak’s lead without worry.

I made a foul with an inside sinker and caught a ground ball to shortstop with a changeup that fell in the same course.

And Go Dong-wook, who entered the left batter’s box.

Why do I feel uncomfortable?

I’m clearly feeling the discomfort that a batter should feel with the appearance of the 1st hitter. I guess my condition isn’t normal.

“Strike!”

Baseball is a team game.

“Strike, two!”

If I’m not normal, if I’m worse than usual right now, someone on our team has to make up for that part.

“Strike!!”

Gyu-hak was making up for that part very well.

We’ve been matching batteries [pitcher-catcher pairs] for several years, and I’m starting to see external parts as well as internal parts of the game. Is that what’s happening?

He seems to know my condition even though he hasn’t said anything in particular.

“Ah, nice ball!”

The shouts are louder than usual. Thanks to that, I was able to block the 2nd hitter I met next in a pretty neat way.

I went back to the dugout and picked up my jacket. When I actually tried to put it on, my body, which was hotter than I thought, needed to be cooled down instead.

It’s already the end of June. I sweated a lot without even realizing it.

“Hyung [older brother/senior]. Are you not feeling well somewhere?”

“No. I just have a lot of thoughts today.”

I must have looked a little sick. Gyu-hak, who hadn’t said anything in particular until now, came up to me, worried.

“Hyung.”

“Yeah.”

“From number 3.”

As Gyu-hak said, Ki-sung was seen going to bat.

“He’ll hit. It’s Ki-sung.”

“No.”

Ttaak—

“He hit it.”

“Not that.”

“What.”

“…Sangsoo, Sangsoo.”

“Ah…”

Next to Ki-sung, who hit a hit and stepped on first base, Park Hae-jin was standing.

I hurriedly looked at the opponent’s dugout and saw Hong Seok-jin, who is a designated hitter, already wearing batting equipment and waiting.

“Gyu-hak.”

“Yes.”

“If I give up a point in the bottom of the 9th.”

“Yes.”

“Hit me.”

“Yes?”

“Hit me X-ly hard. No, just kill me.”

“Hyung, what’s wrong? Are you very sick?”

My mentality hurts.

I thought I had blocked it well until the bottom of the 8th, but I was terrified by the sudden lineup in the bottom of the 9th.

That damn Park Hae-jin. I have to face that bastard again. What is this sound?

That’s a story for then, and we have to score in this attack. No matter how well we block the bottom of the 9th, if we don’t score in this inning, we’ll go to extra innings.

To be honest, I’m not confident in what to do if we go to extra innings. The mental problem is bigger than the physical problem right now.

Bunt.

The manager’s big gamble was floated to send the first base runner, who was replaced by pinch runner Ki-beom. A bunt sign came out to Jin-hyung, who is none other than the 4th hitter. Jin-hyung?

Tik—

“Foul!”

As soon as the bat came down from the batting position, all the infielders rushed in. The ball went over the umpire’s head, making their efforts futile.

Jin-hyung will probably do well.

Even though he is in charge of the important role of the 4th hitter, his power is very low, but he is the friend with the highest batting average on the team, so he has the best understanding of pitching.

I want to believe that.

When a foul came out on the first pitch, a sign came out again from the dugout. The movement was different from before, but the conclusion was the same.

Bunt.

But the difference is that this time, the instruction is to lower the batting position from the beginning, not to lower it from the batting position.

After Jin-hyung confirmed, he was preparing by lowering his bat from the sign exchange. At the same time as the pitch, Park Hae-jin and Ha Hae-jin rushed to home.

Even so, Jin-hyung was not afraid and pushed the bat held with both hands forward. No, the ball is strong?!.

“Out!”

Whether it was Jin-hyung’s own plan, the bunt ball that passed the first baseman’s height fell to the left behind the pitcher.

When the ball floated high, Ki-beom hesitated, but as soon as he saw it passing Park Hae-jin’s height, he gritted his teeth and headed to 2nd base, and the catcher, judging that it was late, called to 1st base.

“Nice!”

“Good, score!”

“Let’s continue!”

A great push bunt.

It would have been nice if it was stronger and passed the infield, but that would be greedy. Let’s be thankful that we continued the atmosphere. Let’s be thankful. Hoo.

“Time!”

Soon, the other team’s catcher called time. Shin Heon-cheol went up and talked to the pitcher, then came down to home and told the umpire something again.

The umpire told Seung-joo something again, and Seung-joo immediately took off his batting equipment and headed to 1st base.

It seems that they judged that it would be difficult to face our team’s best clutch hitter.

After automatically walking Seung-joo with an intentional walk, he immediately faced Sung-hoon hyung.

Persistently, he made three consecutive fouls from the 0-2 count, adjusting the timing.

Ttaak!

“Ah… three, three!”

“3rd base!”

“Go to second!”

As soon as he caught the hit-like ball, the shortstop threw the ball to his right instead of tossing it to 2nd base.

“Out!”

The 3rd base umpire ruled out without hesitation, and Ki-beom stood up from his seat and requested a video review.

Judging that we could do it, the manager stepped forward and drew a square with two fingers [the signal for a video review].

Soon, heavy BGM flowed through the stadium, and we spent time. Ki-beom seemed to be friends with Ha Hae-jin, and he was seen having a brief conversation with him.

I watched the scene with my chin on my hand, and in one side of my vision, I saw the umpire taking off his headset.

“Out!”

Waaaaa!!

Out without reversal.

It was a chance with 1 out and runners on 1st and 2nd base, but one red light was added as an out count occurred on 3rd base.

Ki-beom seemed quite disappointed and hardened his expression and returned to the dugout.

No one said anything to Ki-beom, who was entering the dugout. Everyone greeted Ki-beom with words of encouragement.

But I couldn’t do that.

It’s a fickle thing, but Ki-beom, who scooped up that terrible 1st base throw with a great scoop last time, was not an important person to me now.

Sung-moon, who is now in the batter’s box. With 2 outs and a runner in scoring position, I hoped he would hit one.

I just wanted him to get on base, even if it wasn’t a hit. I thought Gyu-hak’s hitting feel was good today.

“Ball!”

He has a slender body and a slender batting form, but he also has a Seung-joo-like temperament, so he does it when he needs to.

Moreover, this eye for the ball.

“Ball!”

He made a favorable count by picking out two difficult balls first.

Ttaak!

After that, the well-hit ball fell next to the right fielder and became a foul.

“Strike—two!”

The next ball was watched and one count was accumulated.

“Ball, ball!”

After that, he picked out the falling breaking ball well and all the counts were lit.

“Please hit it… If you hit this, I’ll call you hyung [older brother/senior], Sung-moon-ah [term of endearment]… Please…”

I think I know why Hyung [older brother/senior] Gyu-jin borrows the power of religion. I put my hands together and bowed my head. Strangely, I wanted a cigarette badly.

Full count with two outs and bases loaded. The pitcher looked around and the runners moved at the same time as he lifted his left foot.

“Bbaeeeek!!”

Chwaak—!

“Safe.”

Towards 2nd base.

Perhaps because the concentration of both teams was at its peak, there was a commotion in the dugout with screams wishing for the runners to return to their bases even with a slight difference in going to the inside pick.

Seung-joo did not disappoint our expectations and put his hand on the base first and stood up again.

Even though a pretty plausible check came in, he walked steadily and took the lead without paying attention.

Again, set position. This time, he took a long time to time it, and his left leg was definitely facing home.

“Go go!”

“Run!”

At the same time, all the runners started. And,

Ttaak!

“Turn back!”

“Come in, come in!!”

A hit that went through the center fielder and right fielder.

Ah, Sung-moon hyung [older brother/senior]!

Seung-joo, who started from 2nd base first, made a safe return home with ease thanks to the long hit.