Villain On The Mound [EN]: Chapter 87

Villain on the Mound – Episode 87

Championship Series Game 3.

The two teams, having left New York, faced off in Oakland.

“Waaaaaah!!”

“Let’s boost the morale of our guys who were intimidated in New York!!”

“We came to see you!! Let’s win just one game!!”

With the overwhelming support of the home fans, the Athletics players began to gain strength.

Clang-!!

[He hit it!! Jack’s hit splits the center-right field!! Jack doesn’t stop at second base! Jack records his first hit of the Championship Series with a double!]

[Jack, who couldn’t hit properly until the second game, finally gets his first hit!]

The score remained 0-0 until the 4th inning.

Jack, batting second, singled, putting a runner in scoring position.

[Arnold steps up to the plate!]

The atmosphere in the stadium heated up with the appearance of Arnold, the Athletics’ hottest hitter.

“Arnold!! Hit one out of here!”

“Kid! Don’t be intimidated, just do what you can!!”

“Arnold! Arnold! Arnold!!”

One-sided support from the fans.

When heard on the road, it sapped energy, but at home, it was incredibly energizing.

And rookie Arnold was a player who thrived on that kind of energy.

Clang-!!

[He hit the third pitch!! A long hit that goes over the right fielder’s head! Jack rounds third and comes home, and Arnold makes it to second! The Athletics score the first point!]

[As expected, the Athletics hitters are starting to gain momentum now that they’re back home!]

The game progressed with the Athletics taking the lead for the first time.

* * *

Since the Yankees had a slugfest in the first two games, everyone expected the third game to be the same.

But the third game unexpectedly turned into a pitching duel.

[8th inning, with the Athletics holding a 1-point lead, they send Bailey to the mound.]

[Wow~ this is turning out to be an unexpected pitching battle.]

[If Bailey shuts down the Yankees’ lineup in the current situation, Jung Ha-sung will be up.]

Ha-sung had yet to appear in the Championship Series.

As the possibility became visible, the viewership ratings began to soar.

-Is Ha-sung finally coming out?!

-Bailey needs to hold on here.

-Didn’t he get torched in the first game too?

-That’s because he came out with a runner on third and no outs.

-But he still gave up a run, right?

-Whatever, I just want to see Ha-sung come out.

-Wouldn’t it be better to have him pitch from the 8th inning?

While fans were sharing various opinions and waiting,

Bailey showed his true worth, quickly getting two outs.

“Bailey’s in good condition today, huh?”

“He’s been looking good since his practice pitches. Looks like I’ll have some work to do today too.”

“Ha-sung, you’re playing in the Championship Series. Aren’t you nervous?”

“It’s just another game. Are you more nervous on some days than others when you’re working, Coach?”

“Well…….”

“I just think it’s the same for me.”

“Haha…….”

Sanchez laughed in disbelief.

When he was an active player, his heart would race like crazy when he played in the postseason.

Ha-sung didn’t seem to have any of that.

[Whack-!]

[Strike! Batter out!!]

At that moment, Bailey struck out Robinson Cano, getting the third out.

“It’s your turn, Ha-sung.”

“Yes.”

Ha-sung’s time to take the mound was approaching.

* * *

Bottom of the 8th.

The Athletics failed to score and ended their attack.

[Top of the 9th! Athletics’ closer Jung Ha-sung comes up to face the Yankees’ core lineup!]

[Jung Ha-sung is finally making his first appearance in the Championship Series!]

[Jung Ha-sung, who didn’t get a chance in the first two games! I’m already looking forward to seeing what he’ll show us in today’s game!]

With Ha-sung’s appearance, the residents of Oakland cheered in unison.

“Jung! Jung! Jung! Jung!!”

“We came to see you!!”

“Finish the game today too!!”

“Don’t lose to the drug addict!!”

“Send those Yankee bastards home!”

The fans’ one-sided support even made the Yankees’ veterans feel embarrassed.

“Looks like we’re the complete villains here?”

“You can say that again.”

“I can see how those guys must have felt at Yankee Stadium.”

“By the way, that guy doesn’t look nervous at all, even in this situation?”

The Yankees players’ gazes were fixed on Ha-sung on the mound.

It was hard to find any signs of impatience in his appearance as he prepared to pitch, following his usual routine.

He was precisely following his routine as usual.

“It feels like facing an experienced veteran.”

“We need to be on our toes if we get a chance today.”

Rookies have a characteristic.

They feel impatient on the big stage.

If you exploit that, you can break down even the most outstanding rookie.

But Ha-sung didn’t seem to have that possibility.

While the Yankees players were admiring him, manager Tony said to Ha-sung, who had finished his practice pitches.

“As you know, we need to win today’s game to lay the foundation for a comeback. You have to stop them.”

“Yes.”

“You really don’t get nervous in situations like this.”

“Would you like me to be nervous?”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then go in and watch comfortably. I’ll finish it decisively today too.”

Any other pitcher would have said something at a time like this, but this was Jung Ha-sung.

What more could he say to a guy who had a 100 percent save success rate?

“Okay. I’m counting on you.”

That’s all manager Tony could say.

Ha-sung’s gaze, watching him return to the dugout, turned to Derek Jeter, who was stepping into the batter’s box.

‘Whew. The captain from the first batter, huh.’

The Yankees’ eternal captain was appearing.

[The Yankees’ first batter is Derek Jeter. Jeter, who is 4-for-7 in this Championship Series, is playing a key role in continuing opportunities with his highly accurate hitting.]

[Derek Jeter’s power has decreased with age, but his accuracy is still top-class in the league.]

[The battle with Jeter is important, probably because of this player in the on-deck circle, right?]

The camera showed Alex Rodriguez in the on-deck circle.

[Alex Rodriguez boasts tremendous power, recording 5 hits and 2 home runs in 7 at-bats in this Championship Series.]

[He’s a decisive player as much as he is powerful.]

[He’s been criticized for being weak in the playoffs, but he’s been playing so well this season that those criticisms are meaningless.]

[That’s right.]

The announcer was already highlighting Alex, but Ha-sung’s attention was fixed solely on Derek Jeter.

‘Derek Jeter’s strength in hitting is accuracy. If I go in carelessly, I’ll get hit right away.’

Knowing that well, he focused even more.

“Hoo…….”

As his vision narrowed as he exhaled, only Trevor’s mitt came into view.

* * *

“Play ball!”

[Top of the 9th begins. What pitch will Jung Ha-sung choose for his first pitch?]

[Jung Ha-sung is a versatile player. He can throw his fastball at 100 miles per hour, which is his greatest strength, but he can also catch you off guard with a breaking ball.]

That was why it was difficult to face Ha-sung.

Since both his fastball and breaking ball are top-class in the major league, it is difficult to anticipate one.

In particular, Ha-sung often used surprise attacks because he knew how to use the opponent’s psychology well.

[But since it’s a big game today, I think he’ll choose the ball he’s most confident in.]

[If it’s the ball he’s most confident in…… Ah-! Jung Ha-sung goes into the windup.]

From the windup to the kicking, stride, and rotation.

All the pitching motions flowed smoothly, and he threw the first pitch.

“Hup-!!”

Whoosh-!!

[He threw the first pitch!]

The ball accurately pierced Jeter’s outside low corner.

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

Clang-!!

“Foul!!”

[First pitch is a foul! The speed is a 99-mile fastball! As expected, Jung Ha-sung chooses his most confident fastball!]

[The speed was good, but the control was excellent. He exquisitely placed it in the outside low corner, the farthest point from Jeter.]

It was a foul, but Jeter’s swing was sharp.

‘If the timing was just a little earlier, it would have been a hit.’

Trevor was lost in thought about what to throw for the second pitch, considering that.

Trevor moved his fingers, checking the sign that came out of the dugout.

‘Let’s go with a high inside pitch.’

‘Nope.’

‘Why? Since you placed the first pitch in the outside low corner, it will feel faster if you go inside.’

‘I’m going with a slider.’

Trevor, who knew Ha-sung’s personality well, sighed and nodded.

[Jung Ha-sung, who has finished exchanging signs, winds up to throw the second pitch!]

Trevor moved back to the outside corner and set his glove.

“Hup!!”

Whoosh-!!

[He threw the second pitch!]

The ball that left Ha-sung’s hand headed toward a similar location as the first pitch.

Derek Jeter started to swing, then checked it.

Whoosh!!

At that moment, the ball broke and slid out of the strike zone.

Almost simultaneously, Derek Jeter twisted his wrist and stopped the bat that was going around.

Thud!!

The umpire immediately called a ball.

But Trevor jumped up and appealed to the first base umpire, asking if Jeter swung.

[Trevor appeals the swing! But the first base umpire rules that he didn’t swing.]

[It was a subtly placed tempting pitch, but Jeter subtly stopped the bat.]

[That’s really excellent plate discipline.]

[Certainly, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Mark Teixeira have been hitting very well in this series.]

The Yankees made a change by placing Cano and Jeter, who have accuracy, at 1 and 2, and Alex and Mark, who have power, at 3 and 4.

It was a slightly different batting order from the regular season, and the reason for the change was that Alex’s hitting was so good that he was placed at number 3.

[The count is one ball and one strike, Jung Ha-sung throws the third pitch!]

Ha-sung chose a fastball again on the third pitch.

This time it was a high inside fastball that was close to Jeter’s body.

“Hup!!”

Whoosh-!

Thwack!!

“Ball!!”

[The ball was a little high and inside! Jeter avoids the ball by tilting his head back!]

[Ah-! This time it was a slightly dangerous pitch!]

It wasn’t a pitch that would have hit Jeter even if he hadn’t avoided it.

But it came close enough to make those who saw it feel a chill down their spines.

Jeter avoided the pitch by slightly tilting his head.

‘He’s seeing the ball well.’

It was a scene that was often seen with hitters who were seeing the ball well.

If it were the opposite, his posture would have completely fallen apart.

‘Well, whether you’re seeing the ball well or not, my fastball must be imprinted in your mind now.’

The closer it is to the eye, the faster the perceived speed.

Above all, since the afterimage remains, the timing is bound to be off if you throw it to the outside.

‘I’m going to go with the outside low corner.’

‘I think so too.’

Trevor nodded immediately because it was a strategy that Ha-sung had often used this season.

“Hup!!”

[Jung Ha-sung throws the 4th pitch!]

The ball that left Ha-sung’s hand headed straight toward Trevor’s mitt.

The moment Trevor was about to close his mitt as he watched the ball approach.

Whoosh!!

A black object appeared and connected with the ball.

Clang!!

Following that, he saw the ball flying far away with a sharp crack.

[He hit the 4th pitch! A hit that falls in front of the left fielder! The left fielder quickly grabs the ball, and Jeter is held at 1st base!]

[Ah-! Derek Jeter made solid contact with a well-placed ball on the outside low corner!]

[Jeter’s hit, connecting with the 100-mile fastball, is amazing!]

The camera showed Jeter taking off his batting gloves at first base and switched the screen.

[And in the batter’s box is the hottest hitter in the Yankees right now! Alex Rodriguez is stepping up!]

Rodriguez was walking into the batter’s box.