Is This the Major Leagues? (4)
Baseball is full of jinxes. Personally, I think it's because baseball is a sport of failure.
As I mentioned once before, even the best hitter fails seven out of ten times, and even the best pitcher eventually gives up runs. That's the nature of the sport. So all sorts of jinxes pop up.
'It's more comforting to blame some supernatural force than to admit I just sucked.'
Of course, even historic feats like a perfect game come with their own jinxes. The one where if someone mentions "perfect" out loud, it instantly gets ruined.
That's why.
"Hey! Yuha! I told you to trust your hyung! Your hyung's gonna make sure you get that perfect game!"
Baek Jihun sunbae's shout after his stellar defense sent a hush over the field. Rhino's Song Jeong-woo sunbae, who had just been called out, even gawked at him with his mouth hanging open in shock.
Crack!!
That's when someone's gloved hand smacked Baek Jihun sunbae right on the head.
"Aaaack!!"
Baek Jihun sunbae crumpled to the ground with a yelp.
"Oh, shoot. Instinct."
Yoon Kangyeol sunbae, the one who'd whacked him, looked flustered by his own actions.
"Hey! I'm still your sunbae, you know!"
It was insubordination. But.
"Sigh... whatever."
Baek Jihun sunbae brushed it off coolly. He was such a good-natured guy, after all.
"Uh... sorry? Yuha."
He knew better than anyone that he'd messed up.
Pfft.
I burst out laughing at the ridiculous scene.
"It's fine."
I waved it off at Baek Jihun sunbae.
'Well, breaking a jinx doesn't guarantee failure.'
And.
'If the perfect breaks, I can blame him then.'
Half-joking. Half-serious.
The Titans snag the first out of the inning thanks to Baek Jihun's great defense! There was a little hiccup just now, but it seems like no big deal. The Titans infielders who gathered are heading back to their positions.
I bet Baek Jihun made some kind of mistake. From what I know of both Yoon Kangyeol and Baek Jihun, Yoon Kangyeol isn't the type to rough up a sunbae just because he's a rookie. He's incredibly polite.
Haha... I see. Baek Jihun's always been the playful type, loved by fans. Anyway, the briefly delayed game resumes. Bottom of the 7th, one out, no runners on. At the plate: Jacob Dominguez, who crushed back-to-back homers yesterday. Today: groundout to third in his first at-bat, strikeout in the second.
Dominguez is struggling today, but what can you do? It's not just him—none of the Rhinos have gotten to Jin Yuha.
Exactly. Jeong Hanseong punches the pitchcom. Jin Yuha nods. First pitch right away!
"What a harmonious team."
"You call that harmonious?"
"No fists were thrown, so yeah."
"What the hell kind of team is this?"
"Oh, obviously not talking about us."
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Jin Yuha's first pitch nails the corner of the zone. Dominguez steps back, shaking his head. Count: 0-1.
"Jacob Dominguez—among the guys here, he's got the highest shot at the bigs."
"Really?"
"Huh? No interest from the Giants? He's a solid platoon option."
Jason, munching on a fish cake skewer, shrugged.
"Well, probably not that appealing to the Giants. Decent lineup spot, though. But some teams are definitely eyeing him."
Crack!!
"Foul!"
High foul toward the stands. Jeong Hanseong tracks it all the way but can't snag it! Foul!
"Guess they heard the rumors."
"Who knows..."
"Tigers? White Sox? Obvious teams, right."
"Assuming he keeps this up all season, yeah. Still early."
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Four-seamer spears the low outside corner! Batter doesn't even swing! Back-to-back whiffs for Dominguez this inning! He's looking powerless today!
Crack!!
"Out!"
High pop-up stays in Jeong Su-young's range. Out! Jin Yuha sets the Rhinos down 1-2-3 again in the 7th. Changwon Rhinos head to the top of the 8th down by two. They need a rally!
...Whether that rally works is another story.
Manager Jeong Hyeonho took the sudden commotion on the field in stride.
"Eh, Baek Jihun probably goofed."
'How the heck did Baek Jihun sunbae end up getting treated like that?'
He was hilarious in so many ways.
Vrooom!!
"Swinging strike three!"
Jeong Hanseong's bat, which had sparked a run last at-bat, whiffed emptily.
The Rhinos' bullpen pitcher after Lauer was a sidearmer. Tough matchup for an inexperienced righty like Jeong Hanseong.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
The Rhinos swapped pitchers as soon as lefty Jeong Su-young stepped up. And.
Crack!!
"Out!"
Jeong Su-young popped out, making the move look smart.
Craaaack!!
"Gone again."
...Until Kang Gihoo's follow-up cleared the wall once more.
"Wow... Kang's bringing the power today."
I nodded at James Gilbert's words.
'A glimpse of his past—no, future self.'
Bottom of the 8th. Six outs left for the perfect.
"I got smacked by my junior for mentioning it, but Yuha doesn't get a peep?"
"I'm the one in it, and you've already said it."
"Damn."
Pitch count: 92. High, but plenty for a perfect. Barring issues.
Craaack!!
The leadoff cleanup hitter helpfully swung at my first pitch outside the zone and popped up.
"Out!"
One out.
"Pinch hitter!"
Rhinos dugout scrambled. No team wants to be perfect game bait.
'Who is this guy...'
I recalled the pinch hitter's profile.
'Good contact, compact swing. Push hitter.'
- Four-seam, high inside
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
- Two-seam, low inside
Crack!!
"Foul!"
0-2 in a flash.
Tap tap.
Jeong Hanseong's third sign:
- Two-seam, low inside
Same as the second.
'Reaction's late. Perfect.'
Whoosh!!
Straight to the mitt. No mistake like last inning.
Thud!!
Weak mishit rolled toward short.
Baek Jihun sunbae, major-league caliber on D, scooped it easily...
"Ah!"
A sudden yelp. I turned—Baek Jihun sunbae had bobbled it.
Which meant.
"Safe!"
Perfect shattered.
"Ah... uh... I... damn... me..."
Baek Jihun sunbae broke.
"Time!"
Manager Jeong Hyeonho came to the mound.
Ah... and the perfect ends like that. Baek Jihun looks stunned. Manager Jeong Hyeonho visits the mound. Pull him?
Hard to say. No-hitter no-run still alive... but possible. Jin Yuha's young. A sudden error could rattle him, and pitch count's nearing 100.
Jin Yuha's thrown 100+ in two of his three prior starts.
All complete games, so high counts expected. Tough call for Jeong Hyeonho.
"What do you think, Yuha? I'd rather you stop here."
"Really?"
"No-hitter's a bummer, but this feels right. I'll take the heat—let's call it."
"Hmm..."
Jin Yuha pondered, then spoke.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Let me finish this inning. I want to close it myself."
"...Alright. Got it."
Manager Jeong Hyeonho heads back without a change. Jin Yuha stays on the mound!
Crack!!
Well-hit ball! But right at short! Baek Jihun fields it stationary, steps on second, throws to first! Double play! Perfect broken by error, but Jin Yuha keeps the no-hitter no-run! 8 scoreless!
Top of the 9th.
Rhinos bullpen shuts down Titans. No runs in the top of the 9th. Bottom 9th... wait, Jin Yuha?
Looks like he's not coming out. Icing up. Probably done after 8—smart player protection from Jeong Hyeonho... Shame.
Closer Jo Yong-jin next inning, likely.
Bottom of the 9th.
Craaaack!!
Rhinos pinch-hit again—strategy hits! Ball clears the wall...!
When closer Jo Yong-jin sunbae gave up the homer, I was legit spooked. Walk to Song Jeong-woo sunbae? Even more spooked. But striking out Dominguez to seal the win? Huge relief.
"Not bummed?"
Of course I was.
"Bummed as hell."
But.
"How could I show it? Didn't you see Jihun hyung bawling?"
Post-game, Baek Jihun sunbae clung to my hand, sobbing like a storm. Even got an apology gift next day.
- "Heard pitchers give catchers watches for perfects... I'll hook you up instead."
Traditionally pitcher to catcher, and it was a Cartier knockoff, not Rolex. But the thought counted.
What can you do?
"Just let it slide."
Jeong Hanseong shot back at my answer.
"For real?"
Cheeky enough to make me rethink my personal catcher.
"Dead serious."
But I forgave with grace.
"Perfect game? No-hitter? Consecutive complete games? Of course I'm bummed. I said it already."
But it's fine. Truly.
"I'll chase 'em again next time."
Season's long. Just a month in. I had faith.
"Ugh... cocky but cool."
"Thanks."
And.
'Consecutive scoreless innings streak's still alive.'
That's why I love baseball. It's a game of records.
I'm at 35 scoreless now, right? What's the KBO record again?