Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 175

Pitcher done, batter up -174

As the Braves clinched the second game and achieved their 20th consecutive win, a massive promotional campaign began.

As if prepared in advance, various placards, advertisements, and cheering tools were scattered throughout Atlanta. In response, people’s desires grew even stronger.

As people tend to want more once they have something, they now hoped not only for tying the Cubs’ record but also for setting a new one.

[‘21 Consecutive Wins? 22 Consecutive Wins?’ Experts Praise Braves, Saying 30 Consecutive Wins Are Seriously Possible with Current Momentum…]

[‘The Team of the 90s, and the Team of the 30s?’ Can the Braves Leave Their Mark in History?]

[With a Lineup and Pitching Staff Ranked Among the Best in Team History, the Braves Aim for the Top!]

Various media outlets competed to grab attention with sensational headlines. Some people expressed displeasure at the blatant praise, but it was perfect for the Braves fans.

Thus, people were intoxicated by the constant stream of hype supplied by the media, dreaming sweet dreams.

-It’s right to aim for a new record, not just tying it.

-It’s 20 consecutive wins, right? Who knows when it will be cut off. They even had a perfect game. If they can get past the 5th and 6th starters and reconnect with the 1-2-3 rotation, 25 consecutive wins are possible, right?

-Let’s look at it broadly. What’s the point of just 20 or 25 consecutive wins? We need to look at the season. How about 110 wins in the pennant race?

-Perfect.

Some people wanted more than just the winning streak record that had almost been secured, and the Braves themselves did not view this scene favorably.

Before going to sleep, Lee Jung-woo briefly checked his phone, skimming through articles and online communities, and sighed at the fans’ reactions.

It would be much better than having no expectations for the team at all, but now the expectations were too high, to the point where they were making things that were right in front of them into foregone conclusions.

‘They suffered badly last year, and they’re already getting excited.’

Hadn’t they already experienced it once? Winning the first and second games in last year’s NLCS [National League Championship Series] and shouting about going to the World Series, only to be defeated by the Dodgers four times in a row.

These premature celebrations were a problem, but if it was just putting pressure on the players, the problem that Lee Jung-woo and the Braves were worried about was different.

‘It’ll be one of two things. Either they’ll completely lose their minds and it’ll be a more anticlimactic game than expected, or they’ll be driven to the edge and desperately try to turn the tables.’

It was the Mets’ reaction.

In this Atlanta series, the Mets really… saw a lot of unsightly things. Not only were they treated as sacrifices for the tying record.

And if they really become sacrifices for the tying record? It would be a nightmare that the Mets wouldn’t even want to imagine. They would seek a way to break that nightmare by any means.

‘It would be nice if their mentality broke down, but it’ll be tough. It’s still the major league, and they’re major leaguers. We’ll have to see until the end.’

Lee Jung-woo put down his phone, thinking that it would be a tough game.

####

The bad feeling was right.

The Mets’ momentum, which was expected to be somewhat subdued, was still, or even more, strong.

“It’s okay! It’s okay! Brian! Don’t be scared, let’s stay calm. We’ll turn it all around for you.”

The third game of the series, the last game, started with their attack. From the beginning, the Mets’ mindset was revealed. Unlike the previous games, they scored from the top of the first inning.

The Braves felt a slightly ominous feeling as the 5th starter, Brian Halsey, was hit hard from the start, giving up 2 points first. It was a scent they hadn’t smelled in recent times, the scent of defeat, that was rising from the beginning.

[He hit it- Oh! He caught it! He caught that! The great defense that could only be seen from the Braves during the series is being done by the Mets!]

[If it had slipped through, it would have been a crisis. He caught it well without hesitation. You can see the hustle in every movement of the Mets. You can feel their determination to stop the winning streak here.]

And in the bottom of the 1st inning attack that followed, the anxiety grew a little more with the defense of the second baseman who caught Lee Jung-woo’s sharp hit that cut through the center right, and the stadium, which had been full of excitement, cooled down as if cold water had been poured on it.

As the subsequent attacks were repeatedly blocked, and the opponent scored an additional point, the fans gradually woke up from their happy dreams.

“Ah… is that fair? Sigh- If so, it’s a 3-point chance…”

“What… are we losing?”

“Don’t be scared, don’t be scared. It’s only the 4th inning. We score at least 5 points every game, can’t we turn around just a 3-point difference?”

The reason why defeat doesn’t come to mind is because the Braves have been winning too easily and well so far.

The fans, shaking their heads as if trying to ignore the chill that pricked the back of their necks, raised the heat of their cheers again.

And the Braves players also showed a more indifferent appearance than expected to the sudden resistance of the opponent.

“Now it feels like a game.”

“This is the right kind of game. The Mets aren’t an easy team. It’s been too light so far.”

It is natural for the opponent to come out with all their might. In baseball, defeat is something that comes to even the best team 40 times.

Therefore, unless the postseason advancement depends on a single game, no major leaguer fears defeat.

And if they were a team that would be startled and shrink back just because their hand was bitten once.

‘They wouldn’t have been able to get 20 consecutive wins in the first place. They wouldn’t have been able to maintain the top spot in the win rate either.’

Lee Jung-woo, who returned to the dugout, shook off his disappointment about the out, took his hand out of his glove, and looked at the Mets’ bench on the other side.

It was rather ordinary.

When they first came to Atlanta, they were full of intense passion and determination. Now, there was just a moderate atmosphere like any other major league game.

A gaze that lightly and seriously observes the opposing team. The Braves could tell.

“They’ve found their pace.”

“Since it’s all or nothing anyway, there’s no need to be more scared.”

“Tsk, I thought they were losing it, but they’re not easy either.”

The Mets, who shook off the pressure and regained their pace. Lee Jung-woo clicked his tongue as he faced them.

He could feel it now too. The feeling of defeat. But it wasn’t that strong yet.

The sweetness of victory that he had felt so far was still lingering in his mouth.

‘It’s about time we lost once. We’ve been winning for almost a month. But… it won’t be easy.’

####

If the Mets showed their pride and strength in the early game, the Braves showed their potential afterward.

‘His control isn’t that good. His power is good, but that’s only possible when he gives up control. If we drag the fight out, I’ll be at an advantage.’

Lee Jung-woo, who had grasped the opposing starting pitcher’s weakness, held back his swing for a moment. It would have been better if he had come out with a direct approach.

Perhaps the pitcher’s fear of the batter Lee Jung-woo was still there even after he came to his senses. The pitcher thoroughly took the ball out of the strike zone. He had forced himself to follow it in the first at-bat and created a hit.

Lee Jung-woo lightly caught it and watched the ball without even moving if he didn’t think it was a strike.

“Tsk.”

The catcher clicks his tongue briefly.

He tries to frame it [present the pitch in a way that makes it look like a strike to the umpire] by force, but today’s referee was not that easily fooled. The equipment also thoroughly regulated the ball.

“Base on balls [walk].”

The 5th ball was a walk. The pitcher glanced at Lee Jung-woo, who was clicking his tongue, with a relieved look as if it was fortunate, and then ignored him.

Lee Jung-woo felt unpleasant for no reason, feeling like things were going according to the opponent’s intentions. But he soon regained his composure.

‘It’s not our style, but let’s slowly follow step by step.’

“Green light, right?”

“It’s always like that. Want to run? Why don’t you wait and see?”

“I’ll look at the timing appropriately and harass the pitcher.”

Lee Jung-woo didn’t want to waste his feet, which had been resting while walking to first base. As he widened the lead, the pitcher pretended to ignore him but couldn’t stop glancing at him.

But Joey Fredman, the batter at the plate, was not easy either, so he tried to concentrate on the game by force.

“Safe!”

Lee Jung-woo had no intention of leaving him alone. He had played along with the opponent’s intentions in the game. He can do whatever he wants with the base running.

The power to steal second base in an instant. The catcher threw the ball late, but it was a meaningless action because Lee Jung-woo had come in several seconds earlier.

“He is Mr. Lee!”

Standing on second base, he deliberately raised his arms to provoke the pitcher, and the spectators, who thought it was a performance, regained their energy and shouted his name.

Mystery, Mr. Lee. It was one of the playful nicknames for Lee Jung-woo. It was a word that sometimes came out when he did well.

It was a word mainly called by home fans who didn’t want to refer to their team’s players as monsters, murderers, or slaughterers.

Anyway, the feeling was good, so Lee Jung-woo personally liked such designations the most.

‘At least it’s much better than Comrade Lenin or Murderer.’

Nodding at the cheers for him, Lee Jung-woo widened the lead again, as if he was about to run to third base at any time.

Lee Jung-woo had often shown unexpected third base steals, so the second baseman and shortstop watched him as if they were one body.

Forcibly turning his body, the pitcher threw a check ball [a throw to a base to keep a runner from stealing]. Lee Jung-woo, who returned earlier because the movement was slow, tried to suppress the rising corners of his mouth.

‘A check ball in front of Joey… good guts [courage].’

Joey was seemingly indifferent and just dignified on the outside, but as one of the best sluggers in the league, he also had a strong pride.

When the pitcher was worried about someone else, not Joey Fredman himself, in his at-bat, he would often hit a home run with a thunderous swing full of displeasure.

Therefore, Lee Jung-woo thought that the pitcher was starting to falter. Unfortunately, there was no immediate result.

[He hit it- Ah.]

A quick swing, but the ball was slightly mis-hit by the curveball that dropped at the last moment.

Lee Jung-woo quickly returned as soon as the sound of a weak hit rang out, so he was fine. Joey, who was out without even going near first base due to the disappointing ground ball, took off his helmet and roughly swept his head.

‘Is his hitting feeling not good? He wouldn’t have reached for that kind of ball normally…’

Like most batters, Joey also became an out machine that only rolled ground balls when things didn’t go well.

Lee Jung-woo looked at him with a slightly worried look because he had been out with a similar hit in the last at-bat, but soon shook his head at the thought of who was worrying about whom.

‘It’s funny for a 2-year rookie to worry about someone who has hit 300 home runs during his career.’

Even if he wasn’t in good condition, he would have his own way as a veteran. Lee Jung-woo, who had put aside his worries, placed his expectations on Peterson, who came up next.

‘Let’s show off a big power shot. Even if you’re bluffing, your slugging percentage is amazing, right?’

Peterson, who did not miss the 4th ball thrown by the pitcher and attached to the outside corner as he prayed, walked away with a reluctant gait.

It wasn’t a home run.

Just an outfield fly. The center fielder, who had stepped back slightly in consideration of the Braves’ unique slugging power that starts from the upper batting line, was able to catch it sufficiently.

But that was the end of his role. Lee Jung-woo wasn’t slow enough to be out on a fly ball that deep.

[Runner scores! In the bottom of the 4th, James Peterson’s sacrifice fly makes the game 3-1! The Braves are closing in!]

“That’s Peterson for you! That’s the Braves’ cleanup hitter! You sons of bitches!”

It was the beginning of the chase.

####

From the moment the Braves’ first pursuit hit exploded, the game flowed into a slugfest.

There wasn’t a huge big inning, but both teams added a point on each attack, repeating the chase and pull away, continuing the tug-of-war.

“He hit it!”

[Will it go over? Does it go over? Ah! Unfortunately, the ball hits the end of the fence! But – with Lee’s speed, 3rd base should be enough-]

[He stopped. Lee often records triples, but today he trusts the following hitters and doesn’t take the risk.]

In that situation, Lee Jung-woo hit big in his third and fourth at-bats, as if the good defense in the first at-bat was the last luck allowed to the Mets, earning 2 RBIs and spurring the chase.

[Jung-woo Lee is really sharp. His hitting feel is very good. In fact, it’s safe to say that he’s dominating May.]

[What’s more worrying is his performance in today’s game. In the second at-bat, he had a hit in front of the right fielder, then a double that went over the center fielder, and this time he hit the fence.]

[The flight distance is getting farther and farther.]

[That’s right.]

The flight distance is getting farther and farther.

Lee Jung-woo’s show of force was etched in the minds of the commentators, and it became a sufficient threat to the Mets. 8 to 5. They were still 3 points ahead, but the anxiety that they could be reversed at any time was raging.

‘8 home runs this month. His hitting feel is good today. And if things go well, he might have another chance at bat.’

It would be nice if they could widen the score gap enough not to worry about it. But even that was difficult. As the game entered the second half, the Braves’ bullpen began to work hard.

Pouring in the bullpen pitchers who had been able to rest well thanks to the perfect game in the first game and the one-sided game in the second game, the Braves tried to suppress the Mets’ momentum.

They had already given up 8 points, but it was having a slight effect, so the Mets manager thought that they would not be able to get as many points as they wanted in the current situation.

‘So the best situation is to prevent Lee from getting a chance at bat. But if it goes to the end, I’ll have to think about it then.’

The four at-bats so far.

The Mets manager hoped that was all the at-bats allowed to Lee Jung-woo today. If Lee Jung-woo showed such a strong performance at the plate. As if the previous worries had come true, Joey Fredman showed a rather disappointing performance, despite being the 3rd hitter.

[He hit it- Ah! 3rd base! And back to 1st base- Out! Double play! The Mets overcome the crisis! The score is still 8 to 5, the Mets maintain the lead.]

A double play.

A sigh mixed with regret flowed throughout the stadium at the one shot that overturned the table.

They had hoped that Joey would hit a home run and bring the game back to square one. But when he produced the worst result, the spectators couldn’t hide their disappointment. Not only this at-bat, but all four at-bats had recorded only ground balls. All of them were ground balls to the infield.

‘He doesn’t look good.’

On the way back to the dugout.

Lee Jung-woo couldn’t say anything to Joey, who was letting out a long sigh and pressing his forehead. No matter what he said, it wouldn’t be heard in the current situation, and there was a high possibility that he would express displeasure.

‘Since he has a strong pride, a clumsy consolation will only have the opposite effect. It’s better to just leave him alone.’

Lee Jung-woo, who had experienced many types of players both before and after his regression, just comforted him silently in his heart. In the midst of someone’s performance and someone’s disappointment, the last game of the series was heading towards the end. To complete a memorable scene that will be remembered for a long time.

####

In the 8th inning, both sides finished their attacks with only regrets. The score was still 8 to 5, smiling at the Mets. And when fate came in the 9th inning, both the Mets and the Braves desperately wished with both hands.

‘Please, let’s end it like this!’

‘Bottom of the 9th, there’s still one more chance! We can come back!’

They were different kinds of people, but they wanted the same thing. Victory. Both sides desperately wanted to win deep in their hearts. The Braves fans, who had been self-absorbed and swaying just before the game, were just hoping for a miracle.

The Mets fans, who had been driven to the edge of a cliff, cherished the victory that was approaching and hoped that they could protect their last bit of pride.

And then the top of the 9th inning continued.

The Braves’ closer, Stevenson, went to the mound to leave the last hope.

[KKK! Stevenson blocks the top of the 9th with a cool strikeout show… The opportunity has passed to the Braves.]

[It starts with the 7th, the bottom of the order, but we still don’t know. After all, there are countless games where the game is reversed in the bottom of the 9th.]

[In the end, there are far more games where the leading team solidifies their victory.]

A fateful situation.

The commentators were expectant, but they maintained a neutral position as much as possible. It was a desperate game for each other to take sides with either one. Although it would be much better for the Braves to achieve 21 consecutive wins and achieve a tie record for the first time in 100 years for the sake of issues and ratings.

They acted like professionals. So did the players who went to the ground.

“Just get through this time.”

“21 consecutive wins? Let’s make those damn bastards regret it for the rest of their lives.”

The Mets players, who were in a slightly more advantageous position, exchanged harsh words and tightened their tension.

The Braves were just quiet.

There was no action to encourage will or raise morale. The situation had come to the very end. Even if they didn’t say it out loud, their mental strength had already reached the end.

“Let’s win. Today, too.”

With Derek’s short words, the attack began with the 7th hitter, catcher Michael Lipton.

And little by little, the story was made. Gary Winters was struck out with a powerful swing. Then, Rollins, the 8th hitter who went up next, and Schultz, who went out as a pinch hitter in the pitcher’s at-bat, hit consecutive hits, creating the situation.

With runners on first and second with one out, tension was running high on the ground. Because it was the beginning of the upper batting line from now on.

While the pitching coach quickly went up to the mound to calm the pitcher, the Braves spectators who were praying hoped that God would fulfill their wishes until the very end.

The Mets spectators, whose prayers were not answered, prayed once again that they would smile this time.

[1st hitter! Derek Hunt!]

And again in play.

The pitcher looked at the batter walking in a neat posture, using the loud stadium announcer’s shout as a fanfare, with shaking eyes.

He’s not very good at hitting home runs, but he sometimes pulls out a home run out of nowhere.

If that came out this time, it would be a come-from-behind walk-off in the bottom of the 9th. Even if he didn’t try to be nervous, he couldn’t help but be nervous, so the pitcher wiped his sweaty forehead and gasped for breath. On the other hand, Derek was also nervous.

‘If it’s hard… I’d rather strike out. A double play is absolutely not allowed.’

Perhaps he could tarnish the glory that had come to the Braves with his own hands, so Derek felt like his mind was going to be confused by his tightening heart.

The moment they both became dazed. Before they knew it, a full count was made. As they made a match where they could no longer back down, their complicated heads became cold again.

‘Yes, the pitcher is also nervous. Let’s stay calm and go as usual, just like usual.’

Calm breathing.

Both the pitcher and the batter glared at each other and put an end to the game. And the result was more futile than expected.

“Hit by pitch.”

“Yes?”

“It grazed him.”

“No, what the hell! Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind!”

A fastball that was slightly deep to the body. From the pitcher’s point of view, it was an ordinary threatening ball, but the problem was that the ball grazed Derek’s fluttering uniform.

Starting with the catcher, even the manager who jumped out of the bench protested fiercely. Even a video review was conducted. The result is the original decision is maintained.

The Mets manager looked at Derek walking out with empty eyes and staggered back to the dugout.

The only gain was that the catcher was not ejected even after pouring out abusive language because the referee was not an authoritarian person.

At least in a bases-loaded situation, he could use an experienced veteran catcher as the most dangerous opponent. Looking at the batter walking out, even that was not a great comfort.

[2nd hitter! Jung! Woo! Lee!]

“Woah~ Ooooooh! Woah! Oooooh!”

The batter walks slowly to the plate, one step at a time. With each step, the Braves’ pride, the war chant, rang out. Countless rubber tomahawks and cell phone lights rippled like waves.

The batter, carrying all those things on his back, went into the batter’s box and took a stance. The pitcher felt dizzy for a moment when he made eye contact with him.

He wished this situation was a dream. And just in case, he looked at the bench, thinking that they might have an answer for him.

4 at-bats, 4 at-bats, 3 hits, 2 RBIs. 2 doubles. A batter who would have recorded 4 hits if it hadn’t been for the second baseman’s super catch. A giant hitter who hit a super-sized hit that hit the end of the fence in the previous at-bat.

Why the hell? Why did that guy appear in front of me? The pitcher wanted to grab himself by the collar a few minutes ago when he created this situation.

‘I didn’t want to think about the record. It’s shaking like crazy.’

If the pitcher revealed his emotions openly, Lee Jung-woo forcibly swallowed them. Like the expectations of enemies and allies, the batter Lee Jung-woo always had to reign inside the plate. That will eventually produce good results.

‘One shot, one shot is enough. I don’t need a home run, Rollins, Schultz, Derek, all three are fast. Even if you fly one deep, it’s a reversal, even if it’s just an outfield fly, it’s a tie. Let’s think lightly.’

Lee Jung-woo, who was forcibly mind-controlling and regaining his mind, trembled his eyes at the pitching coach who was going up again.

Somehow, he had a strange feeling.

It was good and bad. Overall, it was ambiguous.

‘No way… it can’t be. No matter what. No matter how much.’

As an absurd thought sprouted, Lee Jung-woo shook his head and shook off his [japnyum – distracting thoughts], and laughed at himself, who was seriously overconfident, and relaxed again.

After briefly watching the pitching coach go down again after exchanging fierce arguments and nodding, he prepared for the game.

And he couldn’t hide his absurd laughter at the sound coming from the side.

‘Hank Reiley, Andrew Lubin. You said you’d make me Barry Bonds. You kept your promise.’

Automatic intentional walk with bases loaded.

Lee Jung-woo made eye contact with the catcher who jumped up and asked seriously.

“Are you out of your mind?”

The catcher only remained silent. Lee Jung-woo threw his bat away and bowed to the spectators who were looking down at him and the ground with astonished eyes.

And I thought.

‘He was very angry. They’ll take care of it over there.’

I think we won.