Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 120

Batter Up – 119

[Braves win big against Pittsburgh 12-6!]

[5 plate appearances, 3 hits in 3 at-bats, 6 RBIs, 1 home run, 2 walks! Lee responsible for most of the team’s score!]

[‘Grand Slam Decides the Game’ Lee Continues to Develop.]

[‘Perfect Offense and Defense’ Pittsburgh Speechless at Lee’s Performance?]

After the grand slam, Jungwoo Lee couldn’t even properly step up to the plate.

Because in the two subsequent at-bats, he was intentionally walked automatically.

It might have been a somewhat humiliating choice for the Pirates.

But his momentum was so great.

The fans understood the decision.

However, jeers were inevitable.

-What’s with the Pirates? They were running their mouths off before the game.

-They got hit with one home run and got scared, so they’re intentionally walking him.

-I saw how they’re stopping Lee. It’s really effective. Lee couldn’t do anything from the second half of the game. Amazing! 🙂

-Do you still think Lee is lacking even after this? Is he really worse than Harding?

-Harding? He was good~ I’ll admit what needs to be admitted. He was just worse than Lee~

The backlash stemmed from putting down Jungwoo Lee or forcibly mocking him before the game because of the threat he posed.

An enormous amount of sarcasm was directed at the Pirates, and jeers poured in for their icon, Harding.

But the Pirates fans quietly shut their mouths.

They knew that getting angry here would only please the other side.

And they were shocked too.

Like one expert said.

Today, Jungwoo Lee was perfect.

His defensive ability alone prevented at least 4 points.

And his offensive power consistently maintained the Braves’ lead.

He showed a performance that everyone had to acknowledge on both sides.

-It’s just a fluke, right?

-Well, if you only look at this season’s performance… I think we have to see it as skill.

-Where do you even get a shortstop like that?

-Unless one comes out of the farm [minor league system]. We can’t get him. He’ll be disgustingly expensive.

Perhaps because they witnessed such performance with their own eyes.

At least in the Pirates’ fandom, Jungwoo Lee’s crazy stats were now being taken seriously.

They thought it was just a good prospect, a strange stat mixed with some fluke.

But this wasn’t something that could be explained with such words.

Fear gripped the hearts of those who witnessed his power through somewhat extreme methods.

####

Clang-

At the familiar sound of the hit, the spectators jumped up and cheered.

The players filling the field moved busily. Especially the runners on each base showed powerful base running as if they would smash anyone blocking them.

“Waaaaaah!”

“Home! Throw it home!”

[Now, it’s a showdown at home, it seems a bit ambiguous, but the umpire’s decision is…]

“Safe!”

[It’s safe! Stevie Jackson’s RBI single! The Pirates take the lead!]

In the third game, the Pirates showed the most focused performance throughout this series.

The fans encouraged them with unwavering support, with the determination that they absolutely could not be swept [lose all games in a series].

That led to the Pirates taking the lead in the game for the first time during their confrontation with the Braves.

And of course, at the center of it was the Flying Dutchman [Vincent Harding’s nickname], whose pride was greatly hurt.

“Second base! Get it!”

[Harding! He caught the rolling ball and threw it right away, now, at second base – out! Harding’s perfect assist barely gets the Pirates out of the crisis!]

“He hit it!”

“Go over! Go over!”

[He hit it, Vincent Harding! Its destination is – ah! Unfortunately, it hit the top of the fence. The ball falls again! But – it’s enough to bring in all the runners! Harding’s 2-RBI double now makes it 6 to 5! The Pirates make a comeback!]

Vincent Harding acted as if he was repaying the defeat of the previous day and the humiliation he suffered from it.

As if to remind Jungwoo Lee and his fans who he was.

He led the game with a fierce performance.

Centered around him, the other players, who had been dizzy from the previous day’s defeat, seemed to have regained their senses.

Both teams repeated reversals and comebacks, creating a truly refreshing and exciting game.

Of course, that was from the Pirates’ point of view. The Braves fans watched the game with somewhat displeased eyes.

####

“Stay quiet today!”

“Just shut up and play defense! Don’t even think about coming to the plate!”

In fact, besides the good plays of Harding and the other Pirates players.

There was another reason why the Braves couldn’t push forward.

“Go to first base.”

“Yes, yes, I will. It’s so comfortable and nice. If I had known, I wouldn’t have even worn a helmet.”

“Refrain from making remarks that provoke the opponent.”

“Yes, yes. I’m going then.”

He had hoped, but.

As expected, with the continued declarations, Jungwoo Lee trudged to first base. The few brave Braves fans who saw it poured out jeers and curses.

But the Pirates were indifferent.

Rather, the home crowd applauded, saying it was the right choice.

‘I thought it was a bit quiet. Here we go again. I’m even getting used to it now.’

Jungwoo Lee, who had casually placed his foot on first base, glanced at the Pirates’ dugout.

Jungwoo Lee had been at the plate three times until the 7th inning today. But he only had one official at-bat.

It was because the Pirates were thoroughly responding with intentional walks, as if the nightmare of the previous day had been revived after he hit a 2-RBI double in the top of the 1st inning.

‘Tsk. I want to maintain this feeling as much as possible, but they’re not helping me.’

When his momentum was at its peak.

In order not to forget it.

He wanted to swing the bat as much as possible, but he felt bad because he was forcibly deprived of the opportunity.

But Jungwoo Lee had no intention of just standing still.

‘Also, Peterson keeps hitting ground balls today. So it helps the team if I advance even a little more.’

Jungwoo Lee rotated his ankle.

He couldn’t stay still because his body was aching.

[Lee, who went to first base with an automatic intentional walk in this at-bat as well. Will he do it?]

[Yes, there’s been talk that his base stealing timing and sliding aren’t very good, but Pirates’ catcher Harry Austin isn’t a catcher with a good steal prevention rate either.]

[He’s a catcher who focuses more on offense than defense. He’s showing that in this game as well – ah! He’s running!]

He still didn’t know the timing of the steal very well, but Jungwoo Lee, who was born with a good foot, sprinted like a bison.

The catcher stirred and stood up. But he must have judged that it was already too late.

He couldn’t bring himself to throw the ball in his hand and sat quietly back on home plate.

[Ah, Lee’s steal is successful! Lee’s steal success rate has dropped a lot recently. He’s raising one today for the first time in a while.]

[Actually, the only thing he can do in this game besides defense is stealing. So there’s no choice.]

With his foot on second base, Jungwoo Lee raised his hand to his waist and looked at the opposing team’s bench.

His expression wasn’t very visible because he was wearing sunglasses.

But it seemed like his face was a little more hardened than before.

The rookie pitcher who was caught off guard by the surprise steal seemed to have his mentality shaken a bit.

‘Still, I’m glad that the steal worked well. If it keeps going like this, they’ll let me stand at the plate at least once.’

With that mindset, Jungwoo Lee focused on the immediate situation, and an unexpected opportunity came.

The subsequent hitter, Peterson, hit a super-large outfield fly that flew almost to the end of the left-center field.

It would have been a home run in another stadium.

‘Let’s go. It’s enough to get home.’

As soon as it was caught.

Jungwoo Lee moved his feet.

“Stop now! Stop!”

The third base coach looked at him.

He reached out his hand diligently.

As mentioned earlier, the direction the ball was heading was to the left. The player who caught it was Harding.

Considering his strong shoulder, which boasts numerous assists.

It might have been the right decision to be satisfied with third base and stop. But Jungwoo Lee sprinted without hesitation.

‘Since it’s come to this. I’m going to score with my feet out of frustration.’

If it were in the past.

Jungwoo Lee would have followed the coach’s opinion as much as possible.

But now, he was overflowing with confidence that he could really do anything.

The difference in mindset made a difference in the play as well.

His sturdy legs did not rest even after stepping on third base.

If the previous steal was like a bison. Now he ran like a wild horse.

[Lee isn’t stopping. Is this okay? Harding catches it and throws it-]

[It’s not going to work. It’s too much. Considering Harding’s shoulder, he should have stopped at third base.]

[Oh, oh? He’s fast! Lee is fast too! It looks like we won’t know until the end?]

The commentator, who had clicked his tongue as if it was obvious, leaned forward again.

Like the caster said, Jungwoo Lee’s running was as fast as Harding’s strong laser throw.

Contrary to expectations that he would definitely be out, a closer call than expected was made.

It was true that the ball came in first as expected. But there wasn’t enough time for the catcher to calmly tag him.

‘What should I do? It looks like I’ll get caught if I go like this….’

Jungwoo Lee was also a little embarrassed in his own way. It’s not for nothing that he’s the best player.

A more accurate throw came faster than expected.

Catcher and runner. Both sides were dazed. The first to move was the catcher.

He quickly reached out his glove and tried to touch Jungwoo Lee.

But Jungwoo Lee quickly turned as if he were a running back in American football and touched his legs to home base as is.

“Yes!”

Jungwoo Lee raised his hand.

Those who didn’t realize what was going on looked at him with blank faces.

The catcher insisted that he had clearly grazed him, but Jungwoo Lee didn’t care.

He raised his hand not in the direction of the visiting fans as usual, but towards the opposing team’s dugout as if to show off.

“That, he’s provoking us right now, right?”

“That crazy bastard!”

“Honestly, we can’t say anything even if we’re provoked….”

“Still, that’s not right!”

As expected, the spectators rose up like wildfire. The Pirates players glared at him as if they would kill him.

In their eyes, it was as if Jungwoo Lee was saying that.

Even after going through this humiliation, are you going to intentionally walk me?

A provocation that scratched their insides and burst their blood vessels.

Jungwoo Lee hadn’t had a proper hit in today’s game. The team was also losing.

But at least at this moment, he was the winner. In the end, he created an opportunity for himself.

The provocation worked properly.

####

“Kill him!”

“Hit his head!”

“Forget the head, crush his balls so he can’t do that shit again!”

The atmosphere was as if they would tear him apart right away. It wouldn’t be strange if a bench clearing [all players rush onto the field to fight] broke out at any moment.

But Jungwoo Lee was satisfied.

Rather, because the atmosphere was openly bad, the referees were glaring with their eyes wide open, so they wouldn’t be able to do anything rash.

And since they’re this angry.

There’s no way they’ll pass on him.

’10 to 6. It’ll be hard to turn the game around. But I have to hit at least one to feel better.’

Actually, he already felt a little better with the ceremony from before. But that was still a little lacking.

His feet worked hard.

His hands were still bored.

All sorts of curses poured out on him as he entered the batter’s box with a confident gait.

Jungwoo Lee took his batting stance.

And glared at the pitcher.

‘Now, let’s compete, shall we?’

The pitcher frowned slightly.

The Pirates’ closer was one of the few players on the pitching staff who was doing his part.

His stats weren’t bad either.

‘For now, he’s a closer for one team. But it doesn’t matter. Thanks to that, my hitting feel has dropped a bit. But I’ve gathered a lot of strength.’

The pitcher, who had been glaring at him for a moment, threw the first ball with all his might. Jungwoo Lee swung his bat without hesitation.

Clang-

As the powerful hitting sound rang out.

The stadium became quiet for a moment.

‘I hit it a little off. But it’s not bad.’

A huge foul home run.

Those who were chilled to the bone quietly closed their mouths. A stream of sweat flowed from the pitcher’s forehead.

Whether it was the bench’s order or his own judgment. The pitcher made it difficult by targeting the outside of the zone as much as possible.

But Jungwoo Lee waited, appropriately cutting and letting it go.

And another swing.

The hitting sound rang out again.

[It’s flying – it’s a foul. Oh, it bends out of the pole at the end.]

[It’s similar to the way Harding looked in the first at-bat in the first game. The course is the same too.]

[Yes, Vincent Harding was unfortunately out due to Lee’s super play in that at-bat.]

A showdown reminiscent of two days ago. But the result was different.

The Pirates didn’t have Jungwoo Lee. So no one could catch the flying ball either.

‘Well, I feel refreshed enough. It’s a bit of a shame to lose.’

Jungwoo Lee casually threw away his bat and circled the bases leisurely.

As expected, the team was losing. But like the base running play he showed earlier.

Among all the players in this stadium right now, Jungwoo Lee was the winner.