Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 171

[‘Tenacity Prevails!’ Peter Hanson Pitches 6 Innings No-Hitter, Heartbreaking Complete Game Loss]

[‘Classic Emotion’ Can Peter Hanson Become the Rockies’ Ace?]

[Peter Hanson, 8.1 Innings, 4 Runs, 13 Strikeouts, 2 Walks. A Touch of Disappointment, But a Beautiful Pitching Display!]

The Rockies lost.

Despite managing to score 1 run against Braves’ closer Stevenson, they ultimately failed to overcome the 4-1 deficit created by Lee Jung-woo’s two-run homer.

Nevertheless, they were met with thunderous applause. The fans remained until the end, responding with enthusiastic cheers to the starting pitcher and the Rockies team, who had stirred their hearts.

The emergence of a new ace candidate offered a glimmer of hope, the Colorado Rockies’ pride upheld by the pitcher amidst disappointment.

They lost, and the hoped-for records weren’t achieved, but they gained something as well.

And that was all.

[‘Touching? Just Overwork’ Rockies’ Loss is the Bench’s Fault!]

[‘Reality Behind the Story’ Pitching Coach and Manager’s Negligence. Risk of Injury Too…]

[Over 20 Pitches More Than Usual! Peter Hanson Complains of Pain?]

With the no-hitter gone and the complete game victory also out of reach, the shield against criticism vanished.

The media criticized the bench’s negligence, comparing Peter Hanson, who eventually left the mound after surrendering the final two-run home run, to the Braves’ bullpen, which had been activated much earlier. They seemed certain that the outcome was avoidable.

The Rockies had maintained their pride, but they had lost the game.

Conversely, the Braves, as victors, gained everything the Rockies failed to secure.

They cleanly erased the worries that had plagued them, and their winning streak remained unbroken. Moreover, not only did the ace perform well, but the entire pitching staff showcased their skills.

Rockies fans, witnessing the Braves’ overwhelming victory as a team and their individual triumphs, were overwhelmed by a sense of dread that followed the brief moment of emotion.

-What the hell is that Lee guy?

-He’s either crazy, crazy, or crazy. Pick one.

-So, we’re all sure he’s crazy.

-Not crazy, but scary… Damn, Peter Hanson pitched his ass off… But even if everyone else is doing well, he’s completely defeated by Lee.

-Totally defeated. The walk in the top of the 7th was practically giving up… His mentality broke down when he got stolen on second and third. And then he gave up the final home run…

-What kind of bastard is that? Seriously, he needs to learn how to take it easy. Why steal at that timing? He was all over the place the whole game, and then he hits a home run without even looking tired?

-I really hate him. I really don’t like the Phillies [rival team]. But this time, I agree. Having that kind of guy in the same division… I’d rather have Harding or Hunter [other skilled players]…

While Peter Hanson showcased the qualities of a classic ace pitcher, giving people emotion, Lee Jung-woo, who directly crushed him, instilled fear.

The home run that crushed even the last hope was terrifying, but what people focused on was the steal in the top of the 7th.

A scene that shattered the mentality of the pitcher, the catcher, and the entire Rockies team. Not just the Braves or the Rockies fans, but even fans of other teams who tuned in because of the ongoing record were thrilled by the audacity.

Anyone could see that the pitcher was already shaken. He would have collapsed on his own if left alone. But the fact that Lee wasn’t satisfied with that and went for the kill gave a feeling beyond just being a good player.

-Arthur Hunter is a born monster, and Vincent Harding is a perfectly designed robot. But what the hell is Lee?

-A killing machine or a weapon of war?

-Every time I see Lee, I get the feeling that he’s German. The way he’s thorough to the end in any situation reminds me of Germans. I know this is a discriminatory prejudice, but that’s just how it is.

-Don’t sugarcoat it by saying German. You want to say Nazi, right?

-Doesn’t Lee believe in Buddhism? It would be perfect if he tattooed a swastika-like symbol on his body.

-You guys are crazy. Is that something you should be saying?

-What the hell did Lee do to cause this uproar? Did he throw his bat into the stands this time? It’s all Lee, Lee, Lee.

-I’d rather he did that. It wouldn’t be as shocking as it is now. Download the game when you have time and watch it. You’ll understand what I mean.

A great shock swept through, leading to such absurd reactions. Occasionally, Rockies fans or pro-Rockies media outlets attacked, saying that stealing while a record was in progress was inappropriate.

[‘Lee is a Bad-Mannered Player?’ Controversy Continues!]

[‘Sportsmanship on the Ground!’ Lee’s Steal Was Clearly Wrong!]

-Honestly, it’s a bit sneaky. Even so, it’s a situation where a record is in progress. I don’t know about sportsmanship, but it’s certain that he has no sense of camaraderie.

-You’re all worked up. Stealing during a no-hitter isn’t unheard of, why are you taking it out on him?

-Seriously, what did Lee do, bunt [hit the ball softly]? It’s the catcher’s fault for not stopping the steal.

-Why? Why don’t you just create a new rule? All runners are tied down during no-hitters or perfect games. That would be great!

-Lee is a bad-mannered player? The guys who write these articles are the real bad-mannered journalists.

-You keep trying to shake him with your clumsy attempts, but it’s not working. Lee won’t even listen.

Of course, it wasn’t very effective. Lee didn’t bunt, and he didn’t harass the pitcher with his baserunning; he just stole, and Peter Hanson himself allowed Lee to get on base.

A defeat for which no excuse was possible. The Colorado Rockies, already exhausted and trembling, felt a sense of despair as they had to play two more games.

-We have to watch that bastard for two more games?

One netizen’s cry, just one of the worthless posts that pass by in the world of social media. But this insignificant statement best expressed the feelings of the Rockies.

####

The Braves swept the Coors Field [Rockies’ home field, known for high scores] road trip, just like the previous series.

They won the second and third games, which featured ace Mason Looper and Ian Field, who could be considered a double ace.

However, the content was a bit different.

[Following the second game, the Braves win the third game of the series after a fierce slugfest.]

[Haha, both teams’ pitchers really took a beating.]

After the game, the commentator said that the Coors Field buff was fully applied.

The second game was 10-8, and the third game was 12-9. The two teams scored a total of 39 points in the two games, and the Braves were also battered, even though they won after a bloody battle.

‘Mason seems to be okay because he’s used to it, but Ian seems to be in shock.’

After the game, Lee Jung-woo, who was packing his bags, looked at Ian Field, who still looked a bit dazed.

He seemed to be in shock because he was a very proud type of pitcher.

Mason, who was the starting pitcher in the second game, recorded 6 innings and 4 runs, and he didn’t get a quality start [at least 6 innings pitched with no more than 3 earned runs].

Originally, he was a player for the Giants, who were in the same division as the Rockies, so he was relatively indifferent because he was used to his performance being affected at Coors Field.

Ian Field, who was taken off the mound after 5 innings and 5 runs, and didn’t even get the win, stared blankly into space.

In fact, not only him, but the other relief pitchers didn’t look good either. They all had shit-eating grins on their faces.

‘Except for Stewart, it’s safe to say that all of their ERAs [Earned Run Average, a measure of pitching performance] have gone up. It’s finally like Coors.’

The pitchers who had their performances drop would have grabbed him by the collar if they knew, but Lee Jung-woo sincerely thought so.

He was more used to this kind of appearance than a thrilling pitching battle at Coors Field. And Lee Jung-woo himself was also a beneficiary of the buff.

“If I had hit one yesterday, I would have hit 15 home runs. It’s a shame.”

“You should be satisfied with recording two in three games.”

Unlike the second game, where he only recorded multi-hits, Lee Jung-woo once again pierced the Rockies’ heart in the final game. His 14th home run of the season, and even this time, it was a home run in the top of the 9th inning, causing the Rockies fans, who were grinding their teeth at him, to scream like people suffering from nervous breakdowns.

‘Still, it’s a bit ambiguous to just be happy. It was a lucky shot. It went over because Coors is different.’

Lee Jung-woo shook his head, recalling the home run from earlier.

His batting sense had deteriorated, and he was actually contained throughout the game. Then he forced one, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was slightly off. It kept floating and floating, and then it went over.

Lee Jung-woo was sure that it would have been a fly ball in any other stadium.

‘I wish all the other stadiums were like this.’

Thinking about the fact that the pitchers would have had a fit and grabbed him by the collar if they heard the previous outrageous remarks. Lee Jung-woo emptied the locker room, ready to fulfill the Braves’ dream in place of the failed Rockies’ dream.

####

The Braves’ chartered plane, which left Denver, returned home. The Mets, their next opponent, had very complicated feelings.

There are countless reasons: changed positions, miserable defeats, the team’s dark future, etc. Many things were making the Mets depressed.

But in this series, there was a separate factor that overshadowed all of those things.

[Atlanta Braves, Sweep Even the Rockies!]

[‘Unstoppable’ Braves, 18-Game Winning Streak! Where Will It End?]

[NL Record in 100 Years? Can the Braves Reach the Achievement of 21 Consecutive Wins…]

The Braves’ winning streak, which had continued since the Cubs game in May (where they unfortunately lost the last game and failed to sweep), was still ongoing.

The number of consecutive wins was now a very significant 18. If the Braves swept the Mets, the NL [National League] winning streak record would be tied for the first time in 100 years. That made the Mets’ feelings complicated.

-Why us…

-No, how incompetent are the other teams to lose 18 games in a row?

-Damn, we’re the only ones who are burdened because of those shitty bastards.

-What if we really get swept?

Everyone thought about it, but the words that they hadn’t said for fear of bad luck were starting to come out little by little.

What if they really get swept? It probably won’t just be humiliation. The Braves will be on par with the Cubs and the Indians [teams with long winning streaks].

The record will be talked about for years and decades to come, like the previous ones. And people will say that the Braves’ record was completed by the Mets.

At that point, the Mets would rather have the Braves continue their winning streak against someone else. That way, they’ll be mentioned less.

It was the worst-case scenario, but the possibility of it happening wasn’t zero, so fear grew little by little, and naturally, worries about Lee Jung-woo, who could be said to be at the center of this winning streak, also grew.

-Does Lee just eat and hit home runs… He’s already hit seven this month.

-How the hell are we supposed to catch him? Is it even possible with our pitchers right now?

-That Lee bastard really hits as he pleases. Look at all the red on the hot and cold zones [areas where a batter performs well or poorly]. Seriously, there’s no favorite course, and no weak course. What is this?

If the starting pitcher was doing this well, they could just throw away one game, but the problem was that they would see the hitter throughout the series.

Still, you never know in baseball, and even the best hitters only succeed three out of ten times at best, and if they’re at a god-given level, they barely get close to four times.

Perhaps, contrary to these worries, the Mets fans imagined that the pitchers would easily stop him, but they couldn’t draw a happy picture.

They just kept thinking about the scene of being mercilessly beaten and increasing the number of home runs.

Even with just Lee Jung-woo, it was frustrating, but the Braves were so strong that they didn’t even get called a one-man team, even with such an overwhelming player, so the Mets’ worries grew as they waited for the game.

As if to hide it, they deliberately reacted in an exaggerated way.

-We won last time, why can’t we win this time?

-Why are you guys scared before the game even starts? Don’t be pussies.

-Let’s let them get 20 consecutive wins and win the last game. The Braves will be pissed.

-Are you a genius?

-Is there anything to it? Just win. It’s simple, right? Winning streak? It’s just luck.

-Do you really think it’s luck?

Even though they didn’t want to admit it, the Mets knew. It wasn’t just luck, but the Braves were really going crazy. They were so strong that it was embarrassing to compare them to the Mets, who were third in the same division.

The snowball of consecutive wins that started with the Phillies passed through the Padres, Marlins, Blue Jays, and Rockies, and arrived in front of the Mets. The size that had gradually grown while being rolled was now as big as a mountain.