Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 120

Mound Villain – Episode 120

Episode 120 of Mound Villain

Ha-sung’s seventh opponent of the season was the Angels.

[Today, Jung Ha-sung will face the LA Angels, who are in the same division. Recently, the Angels have also been in very poor form, right?]

[That’s right. With the failure of players who were brought in to strengthen the team, both the batting lineup and the mound are in total disarray.]

The Angels were currently in fourth place in the division.

Since the Athletics were right above them, it meant that the two teams were going back and forth between third and fourth place in the division.

That meant the two teams had a lot in common.

First of all, the newly acquired hitters weren’t performing.

The mound also had many unstable aspects.

Nevertheless, the Athletics were better off because of their ace.

[In the top of the first inning, the Athletics got a hit, but it didn’t lead to a score.]

[The first attack ended somewhat futilely.]

[Now, Athletics’ ace Jung Ha-sung is on the mound to collect records.]

The commentators seemed to know Ha-sung’s nickname and tailored their comments accordingly.

[Jung Ha-sung, who is continuing his 56-inning scoreless streak, will tie Orel Hershiser’s record if he pitches three or more scoreless innings in today’s game, and will set a new record if he pitches more than that.]

[Now that we’ve come this far! I hope he succeeds in setting a new record!]

[I agree. To do that, the start will be the most important.]

Tori Hunter, the Angels’ leadoff hitter, stepped into the batter’s box.

[Tori Hunter plays center field for the Angels. He’s not particularly fast, but he has one of the highest batting averages among the current Angels hitters.]

[His current batting average is .283.]

[It’s not very high, but it shows the current state of the Angels very well.]

[That’s right.]

Until recently, the Athletics had shown a similar situation to the Angels.

But it wasn’t as serious as the Angels.

That meant the Angels were at a disadvantage against any team in Major League Baseball.

*Thwack!*

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung strikes out the first batter in just four pitches!]

That’s why the Angels’ batting lineup was no match for Ha-sung.

* * *

Ha-sung was sitting in the dugout after finishing the second inning.

When the camera caught him, the announcer opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for it.

[Jung Ha-sung is showing perfect pitching again today. He has recorded 4 strikeouts and 1 walk through the 2nd inning, showing the qualities of an ace.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s good pitching is not surprising anymore. However, it’s very surprising that he’s the same as usual even though he’s challenging a great record.]

[Commissioner, you also challenged various records during your active career. How was it back then?]

[I didn’t show it on the outside, but I was very nervous. You have to overcome that nervousness to set a great record.]

[Jung Ha-sung seems to have a really strong heart.]

[He’s a natural player! It’s admirable that he’s not shaken at all even though he’s challenging a Major League record at such a young age!]

As if to repay Ha-sung’s performance, the Athletics’ batting lineup scored the first run in the third inning.

*Crack!*

[He hit it! A well-hit ball goes through the gap between third base and shortstop! The runner on third base slowly comes home, and the Athletics score the first point!]

[The offense is going very well recently! Very good!]

The offense was going well, creating a relaxed situation.

[Jung Ha-sung takes the mound in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a 2-point lead!]

[I don’t remember the last time Jung Ha-sung received run support this quickly.]

[Haha! That’s right.]

Ha-sung, who was on the mound, checked the scoreboard while applying rosin [a sticky resin used by pitchers for a better grip] to his hand.

‘59 innings…….’

Even though he didn’t show it on the outside, Ha-sung himself was nervous.

Major League Baseball, where baseball began.

The new record that came out of there was bound to be meaningful.

‘Some people don’t recognize records set in Japan or Korea.’

The logic was that the level of Major League Baseball was overwhelmingly high, so new records set in other leagues could not be recognized as records.

It was a plausible story, so many people agreed with it.

He was challenging a new record in such a Major League Baseball.

No matter how strong-hearted Ha-sung was, he couldn’t help but be nervous.

“Hoo……!”

Ha-sung took a deep breath and stood on the mound.

‘The record is not about challenging.’

And he steeled his mind.

He recalled what he had gained in his previous life.

‘Only after achieving it do you become the only one and your value increases.’

It was cruel, but that was the reality.

There is also the saying that the process is important, but Ha-sung did not agree.

‘If the process is important, everyone should succeed. No one doesn’t try during the process. It’s only when you make it a result that it shines.’

As the batter stepped into the batter’s box, Ha-sung stepped on the pitcher’s plate.

‘I’m going to get results.’

Then the umpire raised his hand.

“Play ball!!”

The 59th inning began.

* * *

[In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Jung Ha-sung faces the first batter.]

After exchanging signs, Ha-sung threw the first pitch.

*Whoosh!*

*Crack!*

[He swung! But the ball was weakened by the ball’s power, and the ball fell into the stands on the third base side.]

The first strike was called.

The second pitch was a slider to induce a swing, but the batter didn’t swing.

The third pitch was a fastball to get the count.

[One ball, two strikes. Jung Ha-sung has created a favorable count.]

[According to Jung Ha-sung’s style, there is a high possibility that he will go for the win here.]

It was now a well-known fact in Major League Baseball that Ha-sung was an aggressive pitcher.

That’s why many people thought he would decide to go for the win here.

‘The fastball is coming.’

‘He’s going to go for it.’

‘It’s going to be a high-speed ball, right?’

Fans, commentators, and even the batter.

Everyone thought Ha-sung would go for the win with a fastball.

In the meantime, Ha-sung threw the ball.

[He threw the 4th pitch!]

*Whoosh!*

The ball that left his hand flew quickly.

‘I got him!’

The batter swung his bat as if he had been waiting for it.

His bat was quickly passing over home plate. But the ball hadn’t arrived yet.

‘Oh……!’

The batter’s face contorted at the unexpected changeup.

*Swish!*

*Thwack!*

“Swing! Out!!”

[Ah~ Jung Ha-sung perfectly stole the batter’s timing with a changeup here!]

[I expected a fastball. He turns the batter away with a deceptive ball.]

[He lowered the proportion of changeups in the previous game, so I wondered if he would reduce the proportion in today’s game as well. He throws a changeup at a crucial moment.]

In the previous game, Ha-sung gave up on the changeup because it didn’t properly connect in his hand.

But today’s game was different.

‘The changeup is sticking well.’

His sense of touch was sharp, perhaps because he was in good condition today.

Thanks to that, the changeup went in as he wanted.

‘I can throw it often in today’s game.’

Ha-sung, who had secured the second out count, turned his gaze to the giant of a man entering the batter’s box.

[Godzilla Hideki Matsui is stepping into the batter’s box!]

He was the man who made a great contribution to the New York Yankees winning the World Series in the 2009 season.

In fact, he played so well that he won the 2009 World Series MVP.

[Hideki Matsui, who left the Yankees and came to the Angels! However, his performance this season has not lived up to expectations.]

[I think the fact that he left Yankee Stadium, which is a batting-friendly stadium, has had an impact.]

He made a new nest in the Angels, but his skills were worse than before at Angel Stadium, one of the pitcher-friendly stadiums.

In addition, aging overlapped, and he was not showing the monstrous power of his Yankees days.

[But Godzilla is Godzilla, right?]

[That’s right. He’s still a player with a home run threat, so you have to be careful when facing him.]

[Two Major Leaguers representing Korea and Japan are facing off!]

The viewership ratings in Korea soared as the Korea-Japan match was formed.

But Ha-sung didn’t care much.

‘It’s not a Korea-Japan national team match, so there’s no reason to make a fuss about meeting in Major League Baseball.’

To him, he was just another batter.

‘Of course, a batter to be careful of a home run.’

He exchanged signs with Trevor and entered his pitching stance.

[He throws the first pitch against Hideki Matsui.]

“Hmph!!”

*Whoosh-!!*

The ball that left Ha-sung’s hand flew towards Matsui’s body.

A ball that could hit the body if he made a mistake.

But Matsui didn’t avoid it and swung his bat.

*Swish-!!*

At the same time, the trajectory of the ball changed and penetrated the strike zone.

The moment the two trajectories became one.

*Crack!*

A cheerful sound echoed.

[He hit it!]

The ball flew quickly.

It was a hit-like ball, but at the last moment, the trajectory curved and fell outside the third base line.

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul!]

[But Hideki hit it very well.]

It wasn’t a mistake pitch.

He just didn’t think Hideki’s reaction was good.

‘Is that experience?’

Hideki is a player who conquered Japan and crossed over to Major League Baseball.

The experience he has accumulated while playing in Major League Baseball for ten years will be enormous.

‘I’m not lacking in terms of career, but I can’t compare to a human like that.’

Ha-sung, who had rosin on his hands, stood on the mound.

‘Then I’ll have to fight with weapons you don’t have.’

Ha-sung, who stepped on the pitcher’s plate, exchanged signs.

‘Let’s go with the fastball.’

‘Okay.’

Trevor seemed to be thinking the same thing, and the sign was exchanged at once.

Something Hideki doesn’t have and Ha-sung does.

‘The contents may be similar, but I’m very energetic in this body.’

Ha-sung, who entered his pitching stance, threw the second pitch with a windup.

“Hmph!!”

*Whoosh!!*

*Crack!*

“Foul!!”

[Second pitch is a foul! Hideki’s bat is pushed back by the 100 mph fastball!]

[Hideki Matsui’s bat speed is slowing down as he gets older. On the other hand, Jung Ha-sung is a pitcher who throws the fastest speed in Major League Baseball. The compatibility is not good.]

Ha-sung, who had secured two strikes, threw the third ball at a fast tempo.

[He threw the 3rd pitch!]

“Hmph!!”

*Whoosh-!!*

This time, it was a fastball.

Hideki quickly swung his bat as if he wouldn’t miss it this time.

But he couldn’t keep up with the ball that Ha-sung threw with all his might.

*Thwack!!*

*Swish!!*

“Swing! Out!!”

[Swing strikeout!! Jung Ha-sung turns Hideki Matsui away with a 102 mph fastball!!]

[Ah~ He turns away the Japanese legend who dominated an era like this!]

[It was a really wonderful ball!]

There was only one out count left.

[Now, if he gets just one out count, he will be shoulder to shoulder with Orel Hershiser!]

Ha-sung poured out a relentless attack against the third batter as well.

*Bang-!!*

“Strike!”

[First pitch fastball that stabs the body!]

*Crack!*

“Foul!”

[He scoops up the slider that flows out!]

Ha-sung, who had secured two strikes, sent the sign directly.

When Trevor nodded, Ha-sung took a deep breath and went into a windup.

‘Concentrate…… concentrate……!’

As he increased his concentration, the surrounding scenery disappeared.

Ha-sung, who was completely alone, felt how his muscles were moving and how his body was reacting, and unleashed the 3rd ball.

“Hmph!!”

*Whooshing sound!!*

The ball that left his hand accurately pierced the borderline outside the strike zone.

*Thwack!!*

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung achieves 59 consecutive scoreless innings! He is shoulder to shoulder with Orel Hershiser!]

[I’m proud! I’m really proud, Jung Ha-sung!!]

The phrase [Jung Ha-sung Achieves 59 Consecutive Scoreless Innings!] appeared on the broadcast screen, congratulating his record.

* * *

[Jung Ha-sung has set a new record. In the game against the Angels on this day, he pitched 6 innings without giving up a run, breaking the previous record of 59 innings without giving up a run in this category and setting a new record of 62 consecutive scoreless innings.]

Ha-sung’s name rose to the highest place in Major League history.