Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 141

Villain on the Mound – Episode 141

The game was held at Yankee Stadium.

Fueled by the enthusiastic cheers of the New York fans, the Athletics’ first inning ended without any significant offense.

[The Athletics’ batting lineup is silenced by Yankees’ ace Sabathia’s excellent pitching.]

[Sabathia is certain to have a career-high season this year, so there’s a high chance today’s game will be a pitching duel.]

The camera focused on Ha-sung on the mound.

[Currently, the best pitcher in Major League, Jung Ha-sung, is on the mound!]

Ha-sung’s appearance caused a stir in Yankee Stadium.

His popularity was no longer limited to a specific region.

He was growing from a national star into a global star.

“Today’s game will be a pitching duel.”

“It will be.”

“I don’t know what our owner is doing? He should bring in a guy like that.”

“Won’t he come to the Yankees when he becomes a free agent?”

The Yankees fans were already waiting for Ha-sung’s free agency.

True to their nickname, the Evil Empire, the Yankees were a team that didn’t spare money when buying players.

Especially if they were players who would go down in Major League history, they would bring them in no matter the cost.

The current Yankees lineup includes Sabathia, Rodrigo, Mark Teixeira, and others.

The fact that they brought in so many amazing players showed that they didn’t spare any expense.

That’s why they had expectations that they would bring Ha-sung to the Yankees if he became a free agent.

[Jung Ha-sung is facing the first batter, Brett Gardner.]

Ha-sung finished the at-bat against Brett Gardner in just two pitches.

Clang-!

[He hit it! But it didn’t leave the infield and was caught by the shortstop. The ball goes to first base!]

Thud!

“Out!”

[Jung Ha-sung gets the first out with just two pitches!]

[His cutter is sharp today.]

To face Ha-sung, who easily turned away the first batter, the second batter stepped up.

[The second batter, Derek Jeter, is coming to the plate.]

[Yankees’ captain Jeter is having a good season this year as well.]

[He seems to be a really consistent player.]

Consistent Derek Jeter.

Since establishing himself in the Major League, he had consistently produced results, making it hard to find a bad season.

But.

Pow-!!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout!! Jung Ha-sung sends the Yankees’ captain back with a slider!]

[The pitch thrown outside from a two-ball, one-strike count curved at the end and caught the border line! You can’t hit a pitch like that!]

Ha-sung’s pace was even more frightening.

After turning away Jeter, Ha-sung easily got the second out.

[The Yankees’ powerful batting lineup is helpless in front of Jung Ha-sung!]

[But you have to be careful of this player.]

Mark Teixeira stepped up to the plate.

Although his overall stats had declined compared to last year, he was still a player with a powerful home run.

It was natural to be cautious.

But Ha-sung’s pitching showed no hesitation.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!

Pow!

“Strike!”

[The first pitch, a 101 mph fastball, passes through the strike zone!]

Clang!!

“Foul!!”

[The second pitch is 102 mph! Jung Ha-sung continues to pitch with all his might!!]

Ha-sung’s third pitch, which put him in a favorable two-strike count, was a surprising one.

Whoosh-!

[He threw the third pitch!]

The ball, released from Ha-sung’s hand, flew with a fierce speed.

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

The bat swung powerfully, but the moment it was about to hit the ball, the ball disappeared from his sight.

Whoosh!!

Thwack!

“Swing! Strike out!!”

[Three-pitch strikeout! Jung Ha-sung sends Mark Teixeira back with three pitches, completing a three-up, three-down inning!]

Teixeira, returning to the dugout, couldn’t hide his surprise.

‘That’s Jung Ha-sung’s new weapon, the splitter… It came in on the same trajectory as the fastball, so I had no choice but to swing the bat.’

The trajectory of the ball disappearing at the end was hard to deal with.

‘He’s become an even more difficult pitcher to face.’

He was already close to untouchable before.

But now it has become even more difficult to face him.

Teixeira shook his head without realizing it.

* * *

Ha-sung, who finished the first inning, came to the bench and watched the game.

‘My condition isn’t bad today either.’

He had been worried because his stamina had been fluctuating recently, but there were no major problems.

He thought he would be able to pitch well in today’s game as well.

It was then.

Clang-!!

“Wow!!”

With a cheerful sound, the batted ball flew away.

The moment the quickly flying batted ball was about to leave the infield.

Thud!

The giant Rodrigo jumped and snatched the ball.

“Ah~”

“Oh no!”

Sighs and regrets erupted simultaneously from the Athletics’ dugout.

[Rodrigo makes a good play!]

[It seems Rodrigo is in good condition today. I thought it would get through, but he caught the ball at the exact timing!]

The Athletics, whose first hit disappeared due to Rodrigo’s defense, finished the second inning with another three-up, three-down.

[Sabathia is showing a good performance today as well, as expected of the Evil Empire’s ace.]

[He’s a really outstanding pitcher. His heavy fastball and slider are excellent.]

[But Jung Ha-sung also has an amazing heavy fastball, doesn’t he?]

[Of course! He’s the pitcher who throws the heaviest ball in Major League!]

Bottom of the second inning.

Ha-sung went to the mound.

And Rodrigo walked to the plate to face him.

[Alex Rodrigo, the fourth batter, is coming up to bat as the first batter in the bottom of the second inning. Rodrigo is only 5 home runs away from 600 home runs, right?]

[That’s right. If he succeeds, he will be the youngest player in history to reach 600 home runs. In addition, he will achieve the great record of 600 home runs and 300 stolen bases. This record has only been achieved by Willie Mays and Barry Bonds in Major League history.]

[Although the meaning has been diminished due to drugs, it is certainly a great record.]

Rodrigo had several records in sight this season.

Naturally, attention was focused on his performance.

‘He definitely exploded from this time.’

Alex Rodrigo’s August in the 2010 season was very hot.

This was because the starting point for achieving 30 home runs and 100 RBIs [Runs Batted In] for 14 consecutive seasons was in August.

‘It was the time when he started to pour it on. He hit so many home runs in August alone that it was a hot topic even in Korea.’

Alex Rodrigo’s popularity was global.

So many related articles were pouring out even in Korea.

That’s why it was still remembered.

‘Not this time.’

Ha-sung threw the rosin bag to the ground and stepped on the pitcher’s plate.

[Jung Ha-sung is on the mound.]

Ha-sung lowered his upper body and exchanged signs with Trevor.

‘Should I go with a fastball?’

‘Good.’

‘The course is the outside low course. Throw it with all your might.’

Ha-sung nodded.

‘Since my condition seems good today, I need to take him down from the beginning.’

The batter’s condition comes from the defense.

Showing a good performance in defense meant that he was in good condition.

There was a high possibility that he would show a good performance in batting as well.

That’s why Ha-sung was wary of Rodrigo.

[Jung Ha-sung is superior in the head-to-head record. I’m looking forward to seeing if he can catch Rodrigo in today’s game as well!]

Ha-sung went into his windup.

Rodrigo’s eyes sparkled as he watched him.

The way he turned his arm with a stride came clearly into view.

‘I can see it, I can see it!’

His words were true.

It was the first time the drug was working so quickly and strongly.

He was almost sorry for doubting himself.

Whoosh-!!

The ball, released from Ha-sung’s hand, flew with a fierce speed.

Rodrigo didn’t miss it.

‘I got it!’

Whoosh-!!

The bat turned sharply.

Clang-!!

With a cheerful sound, the batted ball began to stretch out.

[Ah-! This is big!!]

The moment anyone could tell it was a big hit.

What was even more surprising was Rodrigo’s next action.

Swish!!

[Rodrigo threw his bat!!] (A bat flip is a celebratory action where a batter tosses the bat after hitting the ball.)

Rodrigo, who even performed a bat flip, began to walk to first base as if he were jogging.

And the batted ball.

[It went over!! Jung Ha-sung allows a solo home run!!]

Crossed the fence.

* * *

It was natural for a pitcher to give up a home run to a batter.

The problem was how to deal with it afterwards.

[Jung Ha-sung allowed a home run, but he prevented additional runs with good pitching in the second inning.]

[He hit the 102 mph fastball at the perfect timing and sent it straight over.]

[There was no unnecessary movement in his swing, right?]

[That’s right.]

It was a home run that surprised even the viewers.

Rodrigo’s home run was that perfect.

That’s why Ha-sung felt a sense of doubt.

‘Something’s a little strange.’

It was hard to pinpoint exactly what it was.

It was just a slight strangeness at the moment. But he soon erased that strangeness from his head.

‘It’s just one point. It’s my loss if I think about it for too long.’

If he kept the home run in his mind for too long, it could affect his subsequent pitches.

Knowing that, he erased it from his head.

‘Let’s avoid the fastball a little in the next at-bat.’

Ha-sung was already thinking about how to face him in the next at-bat.

* * *

Alex Rodrigo’s performance was amazing.

Thud!!

[He caught it! Rodrigo catches the ball flowing along the third base line! He jumps and throws in reverse motion!]

Whoosh-!

Thwack!

“Out!!”

[Rodrigo makes another great play!! Amazing!]

[Rodrigo has shown some disappointing performances in defense as he’s gotten older. But today, it’s like watching him in his prime.]

In defense, he showed great plays reminiscent of his prime.

The fans who came to Yankee Stadium cheered when their superstar, who had even hit a home run, showed such a performance.

“A-Rod is back!”

“The return of the king!”

“I believed in you!!”

Although his honor was tarnished by drugs, Rodrigo was still the absolute star of the Yankees fans.

His performance was enough to draw tremendous cheers from the fans.

[The Yankees fans are cheering tremendously.]

[I think he’s still a great star.]

[But Jung Ha-sung is also a star who doesn’t fall behind! Jung Ha-sung, who suffered an unexpected blow in the second inning, also blocked the third inning without giving up any runs! He goes to the mound in the fourth inning as well!]

Ha-sung, who had allowed one hit in the third inning, faced Mark Teixeira as the first batter in the fourth inning.

“Hmph!!”

Whoosh-!

Pow!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[Strikeout! Jung Ha-sung strikes out Teixeira twice today!]

[The super-fast ball over 100 mph is still powerful.]

Although he was hit with a home run, Ha-sung was still the same.

But as the next batter stepped up, a slight sense of unease lingered on the ground.

[Rodrigo, who hit Jung Ha-sung in the first at-bat, is coming to the plate!]

[Rodrigo is showing a good performance in today’s game. He’s a player to watch out for.]

Rodrigo’s condition was clearly good.

The Yankees fans cheered at his appearance.

“Hit one out of the park!”

“Send it with a back-to-back home run!!”

“Avenge what you’ve suffered so far!!”

Was it because the fans’ cheers gave him strength?

Rodrigo swung his bat around and got into his batting stance.

[Rodrigo did a bat flip in the previous at-bat. Could there be a beanball here?]

[That’s true, but Jung Ha-sung won’t do that. It won’t be easy for him to do that because he supported the bat flip.]

The commentator’s words were accurate.

Ha-sung had no intention of throwing a beanball.

Rather, he focused his mind.

‘I’ll catch him this time.’

Ha-sung, who exchanged signs, went into his windup.

[What kind of ball will he throw for the first pitch! Jung Ha-sung windup!]

He gathered all his strength and powerfully threw the first pitch.

“Hmph!!”

The ball, which was flying towards Rodrigo’s body, suddenly curved sharply and was sucked into the zone.

It was one of Ha-sung’s main weapons, the slider.

It was a powerful ball that would normally make a batter think the ball had missed and flinch.

But.

Whoosh-!!

Rodrigo swung his bat without hesitation.