Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 264

The Mound’s Villain – Episode 264

Ahead of Game 5 of the World Series, Manager Joe Girardi was deep in thought.

“I thought we could take it easily…”

“The Cardinals are tougher than we expected. Plus, they keep changing their strategy against Ha-sung.”

“That’s the tricky part. Above all, the National League rules are in effect, so Jung Ha-sung isn’t as effective as we thought.”

He had kept the National League rules in mind.

But he trusted the Yankees’ batting lineup.

He thought they could overwhelm the Cardinals even without Ha-sung.

However, Ha-sung’s influence on the team was greater than expected.

“If we lose Game 5, we’ll have to put Ha-sung in for Game 6.”

“Yes. If we lose Game 6 as well, the series could end right there.”

“Depending on the situation, we might have to put him in for Game 7.”

“Consecutively?”

“It’ll only be an inning at most, but we have no choice to win the World Series.”

A World Series ring.

It’s incredibly difficult to get one.

Even legendary players retire without ever getting a ring.

They had to seize the opportunity when it came.

* * *

World Series Game 5.

The Cardinals and Yankees went all out.

[The Yankees get a chance right from the first inning.]

[The Yankees have a good chance. Captain Derek Jeter needs to come through here.]

Derek Jeter had runners on first and second.

And Jeter showed his captain-like qualities.

Clang-!!

[He hits it! A hit to left-center field!! The Yankees score the first point!]

[Ah~ It’s Derek Jeter! He seizes the opportunity and gets a valuable point for the team!]

The Yankees gained momentum with Derek Jeter’s first run.

But today’s game didn’t seem like it would be easy.

Clang-!!

[He hits it! Pujols throws his bat!! And this ball……!! Goes over the fence!!]

[Albert Pujols immediately resets the game with a two-run home run!!]

[What an amazing home run!]

The Cardinals’ star hitter, Albert Pujols, immediately hit a two-run home run.

The Cardinals fans cheered in unison at his cool bat flip.

-Pujols is doing a bat flip now too

-Everyone’s copying Ha-sung.

-Awesome.

-Isn’t today’s game going to be a slugfest?

-Agreed.

Four points were scored in the first inning alone by both teams combined.

It was only natural to expect a slugfest.

And this prediction came true.

Clang!!

[He hits it! A huge hit that hits the fence directly!]

When the Yankees pulled ahead.

Clang!!

[A ball that runs along the first base line! It’s a hit! The Cardinals tie the score again!]

The Cardinals followed.

The two teams tied the score 5-5 before the end of the third inning, putting on a close game.

[Haven’t there been a lot of pitching duels in this World Series?]

[Yes. Starting pitchers have been pitching at least 5 innings, so there have been a lot of pitching duels.]

[But in today’s game, both teams have already scored 10 points, and the pitchers are having a tough time.]

[Noticing that, Manager Joe Girardi is making a change first.]

Girardi visited the mound.

Following that, he was caught on camera receiving the ball from the pitcher.

[The starting pitcher is being replaced!]

The Yankees made an early move.

[Manager Girardi judged that it would be difficult to stop the Cardinals’ lineup with the starting pitcher! He’s activating the bullpen!]

[The Yankees have been able to save their bullpen thanks to the starting pitchers pitching well! Now is the time to unleash that saved power!]

The Yankees put out the fire by activating the bullpen.

Seeing the Yankees like that, the Cardinals didn’t stand still either.

Clang-!!

[It’s a hit! The Yankees are bombarding the Cardinals’ mound!]

When the Yankees started to score again.

[Ah~ This time, the Cardinals are changing pitchers!]

The Cardinals also activated their bullpen by changing pitchers.

[Both teams are activating their bullpens early in Game 5!]

[That’s how much the two teams’ managers have judged that this series will be decided!]

Taking down the starting pitcher early was a gamble.

But the two teams’ offense and defense today were so intense that they had no choice.

‘Take Game 5 with a win. Then we can end the game in Game 6 with Ha-sung pitching.’

The Yankees’ plan was clear.

And the Cardinals knew that very well too.

‘If we win Game 5, we can bring the victory in Game 7 even if we lose Game 6 with Ha-sung pitching.’

The bullpens of the two teams, wanting the same thing but different results, faced off.

* * *

A slugfest unfolded.

[World Series Game 5 is heading into a slugfest.]

[The Yankees have already brought up their fourth pitcher, and the Cardinals have made their fifth pitching change.]

[It’s hard to believe the pitching duel we saw before with such a slugfest.]

[It’s usually quite difficult for starting pitchers to pitch well in the World Series.]

[Is it because of the pressure?]

[You could say that. It’s a stage that determines the team’s entire year, so even veterans have a hard time.]

[But this season’s World Series has really shown what a pitching show is all about, hasn’t it?]

[Yes. Starting with Jung Ha-sung, the Cardinals pitchers also led the game equally with good pitching.]

[I think Jung Ha-sung’s role was big.]

[Jung Ha-sung’s role?]

[Well, since Jung Ha-sung pitched well, the opposing pitcher was also stimulated and pitched well. The pitchers who came out after that were similar cases.]

The commentators were trying to find a reason somehow.

But Ha-sung, watching the game, wasn’t too concerned about the slugfest.

‘It’s going to explode when it’s time to explode anyway.’

Since the pitchers had been pitching well, it wasn’t strange for the hitters to have a slugfest.

‘By the way, at this rate, almost all the pitchers will be mobilized.’

The Yankees had mobilized 4 pitchers, and the Cardinals had mobilized 5.

In other words, almost all the pitchers in the bullpen were being mobilized.

‘We’re losing now, but is it fortunate that the score difference isn’t that big?’

The score was 11 to 10.

The Cardinals were in the lead.

But in the bottom of the 8th inning, the Yankees had a good chance.

[The Yankees get a chance with a runner on second base with one out! Can they take advantage of this opportunity here?!]

[The Cardinals have also changed pitchers to somehow prevent the score.]

The Cardinals put up their closer [a relief pitcher who specializes in pitching the final inning of a game to secure the win].

Fernando Salas, who had 24 saves as the team’s closer this season, went to the mound.

[Salas, a young closer at the age of 26 this year, is on the mound.]

[He recorded an ERA (Earned Run Average) of 2.28, 24 saves, and a WHIP (Walks plus Hits per Inning Pitched) of 0.947 in the pennant race, showing good performance overall.]

[He’s been showing a decent performance in the postseason as well, showing a solid closer-like presence despite his young age.]

Salas’ appearance here had many meanings.

‘The Cardinals are thinking of locking down the game here.’

He would have made the same decision if he were the manager.

‘If it goes into extra innings, we’ll be short on pitchers…… but we can’t help it.’

What the Cardinals wanted was to end the game in this situation.

On the other hand, the Yankees had to somehow reverse the game.

“Ha-sung.”

Joe Girardi approached Ha-sung.

“You can be at the plate as a pinch hitter [a substitute batter] this inning. Be prepared.”

“I understand, but is it okay? They’ll walk me if the base is empty.”

“I know. I’m not going to put you up until a proper opportunity comes.”

“I understand.”

Joe Girardi also knew what he was worried about.

The Cardinals could signal for an intentional walk to avoid that moment the moment Ha-sung stood at the plate.

But they can’t do that if all the bases are loaded.

‘Shall we get ready.’

Ha-sung lightly warmed up and prepared to go to the game.

* * *

Joe Girardi checked the list.

‘We’re slowly running out of players.’

As the slugfest continued until the 8th inning, many players were replaced.

Naturally, many substitutes also played.

Although the roster was applied loosely because it was the World Series, there were now few players to replace.

‘It’s going to be difficult to activate the bullpen tomorrow. But if Ha-sung starts, everything will be resolved.’

Ha-sung is a pitcher who pitches at least 7-8 innings.

And because it was a sure win card, he could use the bullpen without holding back.

But there was something on his mind.

‘The problem is the defense on the outside…….’

He often replaced outfielders in today’s game.

From pinch runners to pinch hitters, he had used them all, and now there were almost no players to replace.

‘I hope Ha-sung can replace the infielder’s plate.’

If he had to replace the outfielder’s plate by any chance, he would have a headache.

Because there are no outfielders to replace.

Still, Girardi couldn’t just stand still, so he checked the past positions of the current players.

To prepare for the event that he had to send Ha-sung out.

* * *

In the 8th inning, the Yankees seized the chance.

Clang!!

[He hits it! A hit to the right-center field! The runner on second base turns third and rushes home!]

[He can come in!]

[Sliding with a dive! Tags home! The Yankees bring the game back to square one!]

[The Cardinals put up their closer, but they ended up allowing a tie, which is giving them a headache.]

It was the best-case scenario for the Yankees.

Because they scored while saving the hitter named Ha-sung.

The best thing would be to aim for a reversal here.

But the Cardinals also did not allow any additional runs and ended the inning.

[The Yankees had to be satisfied with tying the score! The game continues to the bottom of the 8th inning!]

The game was reset again.

Today’s game made the leaders of both teams have a headache.

[I don’t think there’s ever been a slugfest like this in World Series history.]

[It’s really an amazing game. The two teams have hit a total of 4 home runs in today’s game alone. A great slugfest is taking place.]

[Which team will win today’s game?]

The winner of today’s game was important, but the problem was the next game.

-The winner today will take the World Series.

-Agreed. Both teams have too much damage.

-It seems like it will be a game that will virtually determine the owner of the ring.

-The Cardinals even used their closing card?

-If the Yankees win, the Cardinals have to pack their bags.

-Ha-sung’s appearance in Game 6 = Victory

-By the way, when are the Yankees going to put Ha-sung at the plate?

-Looks like they’re looking for an opportunity.

-If they send him out in an ambiguous situation, they’ll obviously send him out with an intentional walk.

-Girardi’s head must be buzzing.

The fans now knew how to use Ha-sung.

However, the opportunity did not come, and the two teams’ game continued into extra innings.

[World Series Game 5 continues into extra innings!]

[The situation is favorable to the Yankees. They start with the top of the lineup, and above all, they are saving their closing card.]

[It’s amazing that they haven’t put up Mariano Rivera yet.]

The Yankees were still saving the card called Mariano Rivera.

In addition, they had not used the card called Ha-sung at the plate.

Overall, the Yankees seemed to be at an advantage.

And that advantage came as an opportunity in the top of the 10th inning.

Thwack!!

“Ball! Base on balls!!”

[He endures it! The Yankees are facing a chance with bases loaded with two outs!! Derek Jeter shows his patience and fills first base with a walk!]

[Ah~ And here, Manager Joe Girardi makes a player change!]

[Andrew Jones’ plate, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in right field after Brett Gardner in the 5th inning! But……!]

The camera showed the player walking out of the dugout.

[Finally using the untouchable Jung Ha-sung card!!]

Ha-sung stepped up to the plate with a bases-loaded chance.