Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 236

Mound Villain – Episode 236

The batted ball sailed over the fence.

It was a sight that left Giants fans in despair.

“Damn it! They should have taken Lincecum out.”

“What did they think, keeping him in there all this time?”

“A grand slam, of all things…….”

A grand slam.

With the score difference widening significantly, the Giants’ chances of winning the game dwindled.

Looking at the result alone, keeping Lincecum in was a mistake.

But not everyone shared the same opinion.

“Lincecum gave up a home run, but his pitches weren’t bad.”

“That’s right. The last pitch was 100 miles per hour, wasn’t it?”

“No one in the bullpen could have thrown a better pitch than Lincecum right now.”

“It’s amazing that Ha-sung managed to hit that pitch. It’s not like Lincecum threw it poorly.”

Lincecum’s final pitch clocked in at 100 mph.

The fastball he unleashed, reminiscent of his meteoric rise in 2008, resonated deeply with Giants fans.

Due to various reasons, he had been reduced to a pitcher throwing in the low to mid-90s.

But every fan remembered when he was a fastball pitcher who could throw 100 mph with ease.

Therefore, his performance in the showdown with Ha-sung was enough to move the fans.

[This showdown between Lincecum and Jung Ha-sung can be described as a case of well-pitched and well-hit, wouldn’t you agree?]

[Indeed. Lincecum’s pitches all clocked in the high 90s, reminiscent of his prime. The final 100 mph fastball, in particular, left such a strong impression that it felt like a return to the past.]

All the commentators praised Lincecum’s pitching.

It was that good of a pitch.

[But even such a Lincecum couldn’t avoid Jung Ha-sung’s bat.]

[It was a truly fantastic swing. He accurately targeted the 100 mph pitch and swung, sending it straight over the fence.]

[You could feel the tremendous power in that swing.]

[It was a classic case of ‘fought well but lost.’ That’s the perfect way to describe this showdown.]

It wasn’t just the commentators who thought so.

‘It’s my defeat.’

Lincecum also fully acknowledged his loss.

‘I threw the best pitch I could, and he hit it well.’

It was the best pitch he had thrown in recent times.

He was cleanly beaten, leaving no regrets.

‘I’ll definitely win next time.’

He left the mound, vowing to do better next time.

Ha-sung’s decisive victory marked their second encounter.

* * *

As Ha-sung hit the grand slam, public attention turned to his chance at a cycle.

-Isn’t he just one hit away from hitting for the cycle now?

-That’s right.

-He’s already hit a triple, a double, and a home run, so he’s almost there.

-He’ll probably get a single easily.

-The problem is that it’s already the late innings.

-True. He’ll probably only have one more chance.

-Cycle hit!

A cycle [hitting a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game] was one of the greatest achievements a batter could achieve.

It was very difficult because it required getting all four types of hits.

Since no one had yet achieved this as a two-way player, Ha-sung would be the first to do so if he succeeded.

[Jung Ha-sung will probably have one more at-bat in today’s game, right?]

[That’s right. And if he gets a hit in that at-bat, he will be the first two-way player to achieve a cycle.]

[It’s a truly thrilling prospect.]

[Yes. He would be only the second Korean ever to achieve this record, and the first Cy Young Award winner to do so.]

The commentators’ expectations continued to rise.

[The most difficult part of a cycle is definitely the triple, isn’t it?]

[That’s right. Most players with power can easily get doubles and home runs with their long hits. But triples require speed, as well as the right situation, making them very difficult to achieve.]

[Jung Ha-sung solved the most difficult problem thanks to the triple he recorded in his first at-bat.]

[That’s right. He’ll be at the plate in the 9th inning. I hope he gets a hit then.]

The New York Yankees players were also well aware of the record he was attempting.

That’s why the Yankees players didn’t go near Ha-sung.

It was as if they were avoiding a pitcher who was pitching a perfect game or a no-hitter.

In fact, there was no such unwritten rule.

Nevertheless, the Yankees players were considerate enough not to interfere with Ha-sung’s pursuit of the great record.

And this showed that the Yankees players acknowledged Ha-sung.

‘What that guy has shown since joining our team has been amazing.’

‘There was friction with Rodrigo, but when you think about it, he didn’t really do anything wrong.’

‘In the end, it’s as if Rodrigo put himself in shackles.’

‘There’s no reason to get in the way of a guy we’ll be working with in the future.’

‘A cycle…… that’s really amazing.’

The Yankees players had been hostile to Ha-sung because of Alex Rodrigo’s shadow.

But as Ha-sung’s performance became so outstanding that it erased his shadow, the players’ opinions gradually changed.

It had been less than a month, but Ha-sung’s performance in the Yankees uniform was overwhelmingly impressive.

[The Yankees’ attack begins the top of the 9th inning. And Jung Ha-sung is finally appearing in the batter’s box.]

The reaction of the people who came to AT&T Park to see Ha-sung was enthusiastic.

They also wanted to witness history.

“Jung Ha-sung is an enemy, but he’s really amazing.”

“I know, right? How did he get so close to a cycle?”

“But I hope he doesn’t achieve it against our team.”

“That’s true, but I also want to see it with my own eyes.”

The Giants fans were conflicted.

They wanted to witness it firsthand, but they didn’t want their beloved team to be the victims.

With these conflicting feelings, they waited for Ha-sung to step up to the plate.

Thwack-!

“Strike! Batter out!!”

[It’s a strikeout! Jameson, the Giants’ fourth pitcher, gets his first strikeout!]

[It was an excellent fastball. The ball had so much life that the batter couldn’t do anything and struck out.]

The Giants had already brought up their fourth pitcher.

Judging that there was no chance of winning the game, they were testing pitchers who hadn’t been able to pitch until now.

This choice was made for the sake of the team’s second half of the season.

‘It was also necessary to accurately check the pitchers’ conditions. It’s a shame that today’s game turned out like this, but we should see it as a good thing.’

Bochy watched the game, trying to soothe the strong disappointment that washed over him.

The outcome was already decided.

So, they had to gain something else from the game.

Knowing that, Bochy was putting in a number of pitchers.

But the public’s attention was not focused on Bochy’s decision.

The focus was on Ha-sung, who was stepping up to the plate.

[Jung Ha-sung is stepping up to the plate.]

[Jung Ha-sung, who is challenging a historic record in his first year as a two-way player in the major leagues, will be the first two-way player in history to record a cycle if he gets a hit in this at-bat.]

Ha-sung, who had a great achievement called a cycle in front of him, looked the same as usual.

‘A single is no problem.’

He stood at the plate, looking at the pitcher with composure.

He showed no signs of nervousness, even though he had a great record within reach.

‘The biggest worry is that they’ll choose to walk me.’

No team wanted to be the victim of a historic achievement.

That was the same for the Giants.

If they weren’t concerned about winning or losing in the current situation, they could have chosen to intentionally walk Ha-sung.

‘I’ll know when I see the first pitch.’

Ha-sung, standing at the plate, took his stance.

“Play ball!”

With the umpire’s cry, the pitcher exchanged signs and went into his windup.

[The pitcher throws the first pitch!]

The ball left the pitcher’s hand and flew at high speed.

The course was low and outside.

Ha-sung, who had decided to watch the ball, simply let it pass.

Wham-!

“Strike!”

[First pitch is a strike! A fastball with a speed of 94 miles per hour is caught in the mitt!]

[The opponent is Jung Ha-sung, but Jameson’s pitching is unwavering.]

After watching the first pitch, Ha-sung knew.

‘He’s not thinking of avoiding me.’

If he was going to avoid him, he would have intentionally walked him from the first pitch.

But the fact that there was no such action could be interpreted as a willingness to face him.

‘Well, thank you.’

He didn’t know what Bochy’s intentions were in trying to face him.

There were many possibilities, but one thing was certain: the situation was not bad for him at all.

‘If you’re not going to avoid me…….’

Ha-sung focused.

‘I’m going to achieve the record.’

His concentration was at its peak.

* * *

Tap-!!

“Foul!!”

[The second pitch is a foul! Jung Ha-sung is pushed to two strikes by Jameson’s powerful slider!]

[Jameson is a rookie, but his ball control and guts are very good.]

[It’s impressive that he’s not backing down against Jung Ha-sung.]

[That’s right.]

Ha-sung was not nervous, even though he was pushed to two strikes.

Rather, he focused even more and waited for the third pitch.

Watching Ha-sung, Jameson thought.

‘No matter how great a player you are, I’m also a major leaguer. I’m going to get you out here!’

It was very unusual for Ha-sung to be struck out on three pitches.

Not many major league pitchers have succeeded in doing so.

That’s why he was greedy.

Jameson went into his windup to achieve that goal.

“Hmph-!!”

And he threw the best ball he could throw.

The ball that left his hand darted toward Ha-sung’s body.

That’s when it happened.

Crack!

Ha-sung’s foot stepped into an open stance, and his lower body rotated.

Whoosh-!!

Following that, his waist and upper body turned, and the bat began to rotate with a heavy sound.

The fiercely rotating bat connected with the ball.

Clang!!

[He hit it!!]

The ball, hit hard by the bat, flew away at a fierce speed.

People were initially disappointed by the powerful hit that went over the right fielder’s head.

-That’s at least a double.

-He failed to achieve the record.

-Is a double a failure?

-Yeah.

A cycle requires achieving all batting records, including a single.

What Ha-sung needed now was a single, not another double.

Therefore, the moment Ha-sung reached second base, it would have meant that he had failed to achieve the record.

That’s when it happened.

[Ah~ Jung Ha-sung, stopped at first base!!]

Ha-sung stopped running at first base.

Only then did the right fielder, who had caught the ball, hurriedly throw the ball to second base.

It was Ha-sung who had deliberately stopped at first for the sake of the record.

[Jung Ha-sung achieves the cycle!!]

The moment he achieved the record.

The atmosphere at AT&T Park was electric.