Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 270

Pitcher Done, Batter Up – Episode 269

NLDS Game 1.

The Braves had several advantages going into their first postseason game.

First, they were playing at home. Second, and most importantly, the Giants had already played a game to get to this point.

This was the reward for having the best winning percentage in the National League, a testament to their strong regular season. The impact was significant.

[The Giants fans who traveled to cheer from afar looked disheartened.]

[Key players Vincent Harding and Ilya Danilov’s appearances have been pushed back. If they get swept, they might not even get to use their ace once in the Division Series.]

The Giants’ ace, Ilya Danilov, who pitched in the Wild Card game, was unavailable.

[In contrast, the Braves, having comfortably secured their spot in the Division Series, have their star ace, Mason Looper, scheduled to start today’s game.]

They couldn’t field Danilov, while Mason, their former second starter just two years ago, had become the Giants’ ace and was now facing them.

Watching Mason take the mound, the Giants fans who had made the long journey to Truist Park looked bitter. Nevertheless, they didn’t give up.

“Giants! You can do it!”

“We won a single-elimination game to get here; the Division Series is nothing!”

“Harding! Just do what you did last game! No matter how good the other guy is, no matter what kind of stats he has! You’re the best!”

Last year, they narrowly missed winning the division and were eliminated in the Wild Card game.

This year, they barely secured the first Wild Card spot, finally making it to the postseason and the Division Series, shaking off last year’s disappointment.

That’s why they couldn’t give up, even if their team’s strength was a bit lacking.

They didn’t want to face another frustrating defeat against the Braves this year, after last year’s loss.

So, they continued to wave their orange towels, burning with the will to win, but…

“Oh~ Oh oh oh oh!”

“Braves! Braves!”

“Leeeeee! Those morons seem to have forgotten; teach them again what happens when they mess with you!”

Their spirit was lost in the face of the red tomahawks being swung in unison.

The home fans slammed their tomahawks down, ready to tear apart the orange handkerchiefs fluttering in the autumn breeze.

The cheering was swept away like a handful of sand scattered on the beach amidst an even greater roar. And in that overwhelming atmosphere, the game began.

[It’s quite ironic. Mason Looper is starting the postseason against his former team again this year, just like last year.]

[The bittersweet reality of professional sports.]

Watching Mason take the mound, the Braves fans showed deep trust. Although his performance had slightly declined in the second half, he was still the Cy Young winner (in their eyes), no matter what anyone said.

And behind him were the most reliable defensive players.

“Just do what you always do!”

“Five feet above your head, you know? We’ll take care of it, so just throw it easy.”

Derek Hunt and Lee Jungwoo. Hailed by the media as the most defensively perfect center line of the 21st century, they encouraged the pitcher as usual, shouting casually.

Mason glanced back and chuckled. Especially Lee Jungwoo, who usually didn’t talk much but shouted so loudly when the game started, was always amusing to see.

“I feel secure.”

And he did feel secure.

He believed that if he focused on the game, the rest would take care of itself. So, he just needed to look ahead.

Mason, completely trusting his defense, focused all his mental energy on the batter at the plate. With the umpire’s call of “play,” the first game began with a powerful first pitch being blocked.

####

Although it wasn’t the ace, the game was tight, flowing at 1-0 until the 5th inning, as the Giants’ second starter took responsibility for the core of the starting lineup.

The Giants gave up the first run and continued to allow hits in each inning, but they didn’t allow anything more.

As a result, they maintained a gap that they could potentially reverse, but it wasn’t easy.

[Swing! Mason Looper records a strikeout! He’s pitching very well today, isn’t he?]

[He’s showing the form of an ace.]

First of all, it was difficult to hit Mason’s pitches, and even if they made good contact, there was an impregnable fortress behind him.

[A ground ball between 3rd and shortstop! Lee – caught it!]

“That’s right! Why are you hitting the ball to the center!”

“Haven’t you learned yet after getting caught like that? You’re still sending the ball to Lee?”

Lee Jungwoo didn’t just boast to the pitcher. He caught every ball that came his way, doing his best to keep his word.

Lee Jungwoo, who jumped and caught the ball that bounced quickly between third base and shortstop, never dropped the ball he caught even as he rolled on the ground. That’s how the inning ended.

“You worked hard again today.”

“Well, that’s what the position is for. Shortstop, that is. Keep sending them my way.”

“I was planning to anyway, so look forward to it.”

The fans and Mason smiled contentedly at his good defense that ended the inning safely, but Lee Jungwoo’s expression was slightly different.

It wasn’t that he was unhappy with the clean defense, but the upcoming offense was bothering him.

To be exact, the problem was the opposing pitcher and catcher who were trudging onto the field, and the Giants’ bench that had sent them out.

The brief change of offense and defense ended, and in the bottom of the 5th inning, Lee Jungwoo stepped up to the plate as the lead batter of the inning. Soon, he walked back without even swinging.

‘I thought it was a bit strange from the beginning. As expected…’

It was a walk.

[Ball. Jungwoo Lee walks to first base on a base on balls.]

[After grounding out in his first at-bat, he’s walked in two consecutive at-bats. You can see the bench’s intention, right?]

[The fans will complain, but it’s the obvious choice. No team would have a normal match against a player like that.]

It was as if they were saying, “We’re missing our ace, so you guys have to balance it out too.” The Giants’ battery thoroughly avoided competing against Lee Jungwoo.

It wasn’t an intentional walk, but with a ball distribution that was almost no different from that, Lee Jungwoo had to empty the plate while quietly watching the ball. As it was the Braves’ home, the audience naturally protested.

“Wooooooo!”

“Compete! Are you even men? Are you even baseball players?”

“You dirty guys are ruining sportsmanship!”

Despite the overwhelming jeers, the pitcher didn’t even flinch, focusing only on the next batter.

No, he even snorted. Sportsmanship, fair play. If they really wanted that, if there really should only be such a wonderful head-on match, then there shouldn’t be a difference in skill between the players.

In a situation where there is a gap, words like fair play are stories that only come out in fairy tales.

No, even if everything else is different, such beauty doesn’t exist in the postseason in the first place. Only the story of the winning team is celebrated later.

“Strike!”

So, the pitcher, who thoroughly ignored the insults directed at him, just threw the first pitch with all his might. The voices criticizing the pitching, which was completely different from the match he had with Lee Jungwoo earlier, grew even louder.

‘Yeah, that’s right.’

But unlike the fans, Lee Jungwoo acknowledged it. He knew that was the right way. He understood the Giants’ choice even more because he had been in many unfair matches himself.

But as with everything, there are no choices that always have only advantages, and every choice comes with its own price.

‘So, you have to take this into account too.’

In the second at-bat, he couldn’t try because Derek was already on second base. The bench didn’t bother to try a risky gamble in the postseason. But now it’s different. He was the first batter of the inning, and there were no other runners in front of him.

‘I didn’t try to save my stamina. The vigilance has become too lax.’

Lee Jungwoo hadn’t even attempted to steal a base since he achieved his 50th stolen base at the end of the season in order to conserve his energy as much as possible, so the vigilance had faded.

Especially considering he was facing a ‘Grand Thief’ [a player known for stealing bases], who had recorded 50 stolen bases in a season, even if it was tied for first place.

‘1-0. We’re leading by one point, but still, it’s a match between the ace and the second starter. Mason would be embarrassed if this happens.’

To save the ace’s honor (?), Lee Jungwoo ran as soon as the pitcher started his motion for the second pitch.

[Ah! Stealing second base!]

The startled catcher quickly took a ready stance, but because Lee Jungwoo was so fast, he couldn’t throw it in the end. Lee Jungwoo, who stepped on second base as if to show off, turned his head and met the pitcher’s eyes.

“…”

He didn’t say anything in particular, but the deep frustration in his eyes expressed his feelings. He even gave him a smile as if to show off.

As mentioned earlier, every choice comes with a price. Since they chose the option of avoiding his powerful bat, shouldn’t they have to fight his legs instead?

The pitcher, who couldn’t hide the slightly distorted look on his forehead at Lee Jungwoo, who didn’t even seem to think about stopping, tried to ignore it and looked forward again, but…

[Even though he’s on second base, the pitcher can’t ignore him. He’s a player who can aim for third base at any time.]

[The very existence of such a runner is bound to be annoying from the pitcher’s point of view.]

Inevitably, his attention continued to be directed backward. A player who can aim for third base at any time. The presence of such a player doesn’t just end with one runner.

But since the batter in front of him was Joey Fredman, a renowned slugger in the league, the pitcher focused on that point and tried to concentrate on the match as much as possible, considering that scoring would be a foregone conclusion the moment he hit, whether he was on second or third base.

‘That shouldn’t happen.’

Lee Jungwoo didn’t allow even a moment of concentration.

As if to say he would make them regret taking away his chance to hit, he ran right away without even showing any signs of waiting.

The pitcher, who faltered at the last moment at his figure that flashed through the corner of his vision just before throwing the ball, threw a wild pitch.

‘Nice.’

Lee Jungwoo simply accepted the gift that came along by chance with gratitude, even though it wasn’t intentional.

He widened his vision, which had been focused on third base, to home, and prepared to run, having been hesitant in front of third base.

[It’s high! The catcher missed it! The runner turns third base and heads home! Is it possible? Safe at home!]

[Base on balls. It’s a result made from that, from one thing that’s nothing. A lightning-fast steal of second base. Immediately followed by a steal of third base and the pitcher’s wild pitch, Jungwoo Lee comes home. The score is 2-0! The Braves are a little further ahead!]

[Lee’s base running was also great. In the end, the problem was that the pitcher couldn’t overcome the pressure of the postseason. It can’t be helped.]

And the clean slide at the last moment. The catcher and pitcher just wore blank expressions at Lee Jungwoo, who came in from the tip of his toes and tagged home.

“Lee, aren’t you going too far? I want to be a hero sometimes too.”

“You can be if you want. You can do it, Joey, right? I’ve already set everything up; you just have to knock it in.”

Joey shook his head at the mess that unfolded before his eyes, even though he had just been standing still. He glanced at the pitcher at Lee Jungwoo’s joke and smirked.

Because it was true.

As always, Lee Jungwoo had served up the pitcher deliciously and placed him on the table. Very, very deliciously.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“See you in a bit.”

“Okay, I’ll catch up soon. Go ahead and get a hit first.”

“It’s not a home run; why would I get hit?”

“It’s not much different from a solo home run, is it?”

Lee Jungwoo, who lightly high-fived him, burrowed through his teammates, shaking his head as if he couldn’t stop him. The crowd, who had been pouring out jeers until just now, raised their hands and cheered at his appearance, having stirred up the game with just one walk.

“Kyahahahahaha! I told you to face him properly! You’ve become even more pathetic!”

“Don’t you still get it? What does it mean to give Lee Jungwoo a walk?”

“Other guys have already done what you guys are doing! Idiots! Have you already forgotten that it’s been cracked?”

They made a rational choice and were criticized for being sneaky because of it, but in the end, they were outplayed by the player they were most wary of.

The emotion that brought to the pitcher was wet and soggy like a depressing ballad, to the point where he lost control of his body, which had been holding up well until now.

“Waaaaaaa!”

Lee Jungwoo, who was being mobbed as soon as he entered the dugout as Joey had predicted, raised the corners of his mouth at the cheers he heard from outside not long after.

As expected, Joey Fredman was not the kind of person who would pass up a well-prepared meal.

[Left field fence! Left fielder Vincent Harding follows it to the end and tries to jump forcibly – but it went over. Joey Fredman’s solo home run! The Braves score 2 points in an instant!]

Joey, who threw his bat coolly, quickly followed the path that Lee Jungwoo had taken earlier, as he had promised. With a very cheerful step.

####

Even after the momentum had already shifted, the Giants resisted fiercely and did not easily accept defeat.

After Mason went down, recording 1 run in 7 innings, they scored 2 more points against the Braves’ bullpen, which had been like an iron wall, and challenged the Braves.

[Harding! Hit! The runner turns third base and heads home – safe! Vincent Harding! He shows amazing hitting ability, recording three hits and two RBIs in today’s game! But – despite his efforts, the Giants still have a difficult game.]

In particular, Vincent Harding showed a decent record of 3 hits and 2 RBIs, standing at the forefront of the team and challenging the Braves. But even such a great performance could not change the shifted flow.

[The ball hit the right fence, the runner on third base scores, and the runner on second base also scores. The batter is on second base! Jungwoo Lee! Finally records his first hit of the postseason!]

Lee Jungwoo, who unleashed the power accumulated from the previous walk, blocked such resistance by scoring his first hit and first RBI of this postseason in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Soon after, he added 2 RBIs and a timely hit in the bottom of the 8th inning, completely blocking the Giants’ will to chase.

[5 plate appearances, 3 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases, 3 RBIs. In the end, he solved the game again. Jungwoo Lee creates the team’s victory with amazing hitting and base running, and the same defensive power as usual.]

[He’s continuing the good energy of the regular season into the postseason.]

[In the end, as the last out count goes up – the score is 8-3! NLDS Game 1, the game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Francisco Giants ends with the Braves’ victory.]

Game 1 defeat.

The difference in team strength was severe, and the ace card had already been used up first, so it was a predicted event, but knowing it didn’t make it hurt any less.

The orange towels, which had been fluttering stubbornly like flags even in the middle of enemy territory, fell to the ground in tatters.

[Braves win Game 1.]

[Lee Jungwoo, selected as the MVP! ‘His two legs changed the course of the tight game.’ ]

[The unstoppable Braves, another Division sweep this year?]

When the Braves won Game 1, those who had predicted doom, citing the most wins ever jinx [a superstition that having the most wins in the regular season leads to a postseason loss], simply shut their mouths.

Only the voices praising the great game echoed leisurely.

Nevertheless, the Giants, still maintaining strength in both hands, took to the next game.

[He hit it! Will it go over! Will it go over! The ball – goes over! Vincent Harding! Two-run home run! The score is now 6-4, with the Giants taking the lead!]

“Ah… damn it.”

“It’s okay! We can still come back. 3 points is enough for our team in one inning, right?”

Whether it was the Giants’ will that was causing things to happen, Ian Field, who had shown a great performance throughout the season to the point where he could be considered an ace, collapsed much earlier, recording 4 runs.

After that, Harding hit a two-run home run, and the Giants gradually gained the upper hand in the slugfest.

But the game was not over, and Lee Jungwoo did not just stand by and watch.

“Lee! Show them something!”

“Hit a home run too! Tell that loser Harding who the real King is!”

As soon as he stepped up to the plate, people were already clamoring. It had already ended with his victory, but anyway, Harding, who was a strong competitor, had hit a home run first, so they were telling him to show them the bitterness of someone who was much better than him.

Of course, the pitcher, who had nothing to do with it, would have felt wronged and wanted to shout, “Why are you taking it out on me?” But originally, if the batter on the same team did something wrong (?), the pitcher would take the hit instead in baseball.

[Bottom of the 7th inning, with runners on 2nd and 3rd base with one out, 2nd batter Jungwoo Lee comes to his third plate appearance. The score is 6-4. The Braves are trailing by 2 points.]

[He’s showing good hitting sense in today’s game, with 2 hits and 1 walk in 2 at-bats in 3 plate appearances, following yesterday, so it’s worth looking forward to this plate appearance as well.]

The situation was set. There were plenty of runners on base. If they walked him, it would be a bases-loaded situation, so they would probably compete properly, and also.

‘Fall baseball, it drives people crazy.’

The energy of the postseason gave him enough strength.

Isn’t that enough?

‘Four-seam fastball [a type of fastball]. If I put that in the zone -‘

To make a comeback.

‘I’m going to crush it.’

The faces of the Giants players, who had predicted victory the moment the sound of the bat rang out, hardened. Harding, who had hit a home run earlier, wiped his face at the ball that he couldn’t catch in the end, even though he was far from his position, following the ball to the end along the center fence.

The actions of the most symbolic player of the Giants, a player who had risen to become a beloved franchise star in a short period of time, seemed to tell the future of the Giants.

[He hit it! Lee! The ball stretches out! The ball – the ball – goes over! Jungwoo Lee’s reverse three-run home run!]

San Francisco Giants, all that remains for them now is to return home and unfold their final do-or-die strategy, facing only McCovey Cove [the area of San Francisco Bay beyond the right-field wall of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants].