Perfect Agent [EN]: Chapter 250

The Best Match (2)

Goh Ji-hoon is about to face some formidable players this inning. He’s up against the hottest hitters in the league right now, one after another.

These are the players who have been instrumental in the Jaguars’ rise this season, especially given their current form. How he handles these three hitters will be key to the outcome of today’s game.

What’s Goh Ji-hoon’s record against these three?

Han Gyo-jin and Goh Ji-hoon have never faced each other, so there’s no prior record. Watson has historically struggled against Goh Ji-hoon, while Seo Seong-min has performed well. It seems Watson has had limited experience against underhand pitchers. Seo Seong-min, on the other hand, appears to benefit from batting from the left-handed batter’s box.

I see. The fact that Goh Ji-hoon and Han Gyo-jin are facing each other for the first time adds an important element of unpredictability.

They’ve likely analyzed each other extensively before the game, but facing off in a real game is a different story.

What will be the result of this first confrontation? Let’s watch as Goh Ji-hoon faces the fourth hitter, Han Gyo-jin.

As Han Gyo-jin steps into the batter’s box, Goh Ji-hoon and the Buffaloes catcher begin exchanging signs.

Goh Ji-hoon nods, takes a breath, and delivers the first pitch.

Han Gyo-jin remains still, seemingly intending to observe the pitch from the start.

Bang!

The ball flies high and inside, close to Han Gyo-jin.

“Strike!”

It was a superb pitch, difficult to handle even with a swing.

Han Gyo-jin seems to struggle to conceal his surprise after seeing the ball’s trajectory.

0 balls, 1 strike.

Soon after, the second pitch comes.

This one is low, the complete opposite of the first.

Perhaps anticipating this, Han Gyo-jin starts to swing.

But it’s a slider, moving further and further away from him.

He tries to stop, thinking it might go outside the strike zone,

Tick!

The ball weakly hits the end of the bat.

Fortunately for Han Gyo-jin, it goes foul.

Goh Ji-hoon quickly gets to two strikes. Will Han Gyo-jin be able to compete?

It’s really difficult to get a good hit against Goh Ji-hoon with no balls and two strikes. Goh Ji-hoon will definitely try to capitalize on this situation.

Definitely time for a changeup. Let’s see if Han Gyo-jin can handle it.

Han Gyo-jin, looking momentarily bewildered, regathers himself and returns to the batter’s box.

Goh Ji-hoon, having created a clearly advantageous situation, appears relaxed.

After a moment, the ball leaves Goh Ji-hoon’s hand and flies high.

Han Gyo-jin starts to swing, but checks his motion.

Bang!

“Ball!”

1 ball, 2 strikes.

He barely manages to recognize a ball.

Then comes the fourth pitch.

This time, the ball heads toward the outside corner, just off the plate.

At the same time, Han Gyo-jin’s mind races.

‘It looks like a ball, but it also looks like a strike.’

If he didn’t already have two strikes, he would have waited.

But he has to avoid striking out looking.

Han Gyo-jin swings, aiming to at least make contact.

Tick!

He succeeds in hitting the ball as he hoped,

But it rolls weakly toward the first baseman.

It goes right into the glove of the first baseman, who was already in position and waiting.

Han Gyo-jin runs hard, but can’t reach first base before the throw.

“Out!”

Han Gyo-jin’s expression is full of regret as he acknowledges the umpire’s call and returns to the dugout.

Goh Ji-hoon wins the first at-bat.

Goh Ji-hoon is in great form today. It won’t be easy for the Jaguars hitters to score.

The next hitter is the 5th hitter, Donald Watson.

Watson, wanting to avoid falling behind in the count, swings aggressively at the first pitch.

However, Goh Ji-hoon throws only changeups against Watson.

Whoosh-

The ball moves away from Watson, curving so sharply that it’s impossible to hit.

Whoosh-

The changeup, which looks exactly like a fastball before slowing down, completely throws off his timing.

Tick!

He barely makes contact with one pitch,

Whoosh-

It’s impossible to hit Goh Ji-hoon’s curve, which seems to rise from below, making it even harder to adjust to since he doesn’t throw it often.

“Strike out!”

Watson’s expression, after swinging and missing, is one of utter helplessness.

And then the 6th hitter, Seo Seong-min.

Seo Seong-min takes his usual position in the left-handed batter’s box against Goh Ji-hoon.

Goh Ji-hoon’s first pitch comes in close to Seo Seong-min’s body.

Seo Seong-min starts to swing, but stops the motion.

Bang!

“Strike!”

It barely clips the edge of the strike zone.

Goh Ji-hoon’s next pitch is delivered without hesitation.

The changeup slows rapidly and falls away from Seo Seong-min.

Tick!

It’s a ball that can only be fouled off, even with weak contact.

0 balls, 2 strikes.

Goh Ji-hoon successfully creates another advantageous situation.

Bang!

“Ball!”

After showing a high fastball,

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

He steals the timing with a low changeup, moving further and further away from Seo Seong-min.

“Waaaaa-”

“Goh Ji-hoon! Goh Ji-hoon! Goh Ji-hoon!”

Goh Ji-hoon returns to the dugout to the cheers of the Buffaloes fans.

Among the few Jaguars fans watching the game from the other side, some can be seen applauding Goh Ji-hoon’s excellent pitching.

Goh Ji-hoon achieves a three-up, three-down inning against the Jaguars’ 4th, 5th, and 6th hitters!

He pitched aggressively against three hitters who are in great shape right now. Each pitch was practically perfect.

I’m really looking forward to the rest of today’s game. I’m curious not only about which team will win and take a step closer to the championship, but also about the performances of the two starting pitchers.

Bottom of the 2nd inning.

The hitter stepping up to face Michael Scott on the mound is the 4th hitter, Park Seong-joo.

Now, Park Seong-joo, Korea’s best home run hitter, is at the plate. He’s aiming for 30 home runs for the third consecutive year. I think he’ll achieve it without any problems, right?

He’s already hit 22 home runs. With 60 games left, I don’t think there will be any major problems in reaching 30. Maybe we’ll see a 40-home run hitter for the first time in a long time.

The Buffaloes must be hoping for that home run in an important game like today.

When you face an ace pitcher, it’s really difficult to score by stringing together hits. That’s why it’s crucial for home run hitters to knock one out of the park for the team.

As Park Seong-joo steps into the batter’s box, Han Gyo-jin signals to Scott.

Scott acknowledges the sign, nods, and begins his windup.

Perhaps anticipating an aggressive swing, Park Seong-joo swings hard at the first pitch.

However, the ball floats slightly out of Scott’s hand and then drops sharply to the ground.

It’s a trajectory that Park Seong-joo can’t hit.

Whoosh-

“Strike!”

Oh ho. Scott chose a curveball for the first pitch. It dropped completely out of the strike zone.

I think he was expecting an aggressive first-pitch swing. It seems the Jaguars’ battery [pitcher and catcher] made a good strategic decision this time.

The second pitch comes quickly.

This time, the ball floats slightly as it leaves Scott’s hand.

Park Seong-joo, assuming it’s another curve, watches it pass.

Bang!

108km/h [approximately 67 mph].

“Strike!”

But this curve crosses the strike zone.

0 balls, 2 strikes.

Park Seong-joo prepares to hit, his expression unchanged.

Scott and Han Gyo-jin, facing the best home run hitter, exchange signs carefully, even though they have a perfectly advantageous count.

This time, a 156km/h [approximately 97 mph] fastball comes in high.

Park Seong-joo, with the unfavorable count, has no choice but to swing.

However, after seeing two consecutive low-curveballs, it’s not easy to hit a high fastball.

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

Strike out! Scott completely overpowers Park Seong-joo!

He didn’t just strike him out; he did it with only three pitches. That’s amazing.

The Buffaloes’ 5th and 6th hitters also return to the dugout, swinging and missing at Scott’s fastball.

* * *

Until the 3rd inning, there’s nothing to criticize about Goh Ji-hoon and Michael Scott’s pitching.

Bang!

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

Goh Ji-hoon confounds the hitters with his deceptive changeups and varying speeds,

Bang!

Bang!

“Strike out!”

Michael Scott dominates with a powerful fastball exceeding 150km/h [approximately 93 mph].

He boldly aims for swinging strikes and looking strikeouts, and often induces weak contact to keep his pitch count down.

Neither pitcher allows a single hitter to get a hit or even reach base.

As a result, the leadoff hitters of both teams step into the batter’s box again in the top of the 4th inning.

The 4th and 5th innings that follow, as well as the 6th inning, also see no runners reaching first base.

The fans in the stadium are captivated by the pitching duel.

They’re witnessing a rare masterpiece, applauding even the opposing team’s pitcher.

Right now, all the numbers on the scoreboard remain at 0. With both pitchers having pitched 6 innings, their pitch counts are similar, at 75 and 68. What accounts for these outstanding performances?

I think they both understand the importance of today’s game better than anyone else. They seem to be setting a high standard for each other.

How will today’s game end?

Top of the 7th inning.

The Jaguars’ leadoff hitter faces his third at-bat.

Goh Ji-hoon is still on the mound for the Buffaloes.

Goh Ji-hoon, with his pitch count approaching 80, still feels confident.

Flat!

“Strike!”

Tick!

Tick!

The hitter tries to extend the at-bat,

Whoosh-

“Strike out!”

He’s helpless against the sharp changeup that serves as the final pitch.

The same is true for Scott in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Neither the Jaguars nor the Buffaloes can create a run in the 7th inning.

Before they know it, the game continues into the 8th inning.