Top of the 4th – The Fighters Shrink Back
Top of the 4th. The Fighters had wrapped up the bottom of the 3rd with a 1-2-3 inning on defense, but their hitters still looked utterly cowed.
Well, can you blame them? Five straight strikeouts in a row.
Jeong Hanseong could fully understand the Fighters players' mindset.
Then what about the Pistols, who kept their fire burning even after 11 straight strikeouts?
On the flip side, he couldn't help but admire the Pistols, who had handed Jin Yuha countless records.
"Hoo..."
But the Fighters still had at least one player who hadn't lost his nerve.
"I got this."
The leadoff hitter for the inning muttered that to himself at the plate. It was Namgoong Sung, the Fighters' lead-off man and the only one who'd reached base against Jin Yuha today.
He's not coming to our team, is he?
Jeong Hanseong briefly fantasized about trading the Fighters' starting second baseman for one of the Titans' pitchers. The Fighters needed to fill their ace's void, and the Titans were weak at second—could be a win-win.
Can't even compare to that guy, Jang Moonwoo. That senior's on another level.
And probably...
Our trade chip would be Park Haesung hyung, right?
Everyone already knew GM Hyeon Myeongun had put spot starter Park Haesung on the trade block after his strong outings. But...
Namgoong Sung donning a Titans uniform was next to impossible. Even if the Fighters desperately needed pitching, they wouldn't swap a promising arm for a second baseman who got Golden Glove buzz every year.
Sigh... What am I even thinking? I'm not the GM.
Jeong Hanseong shook his head after playing GM in his mind for a moment. Today's game was that leisurely.
This season's Titans were the Grim Reaper to the Fighters, with Jin Yuha on the mound. And...
Tap tap.
Huh?
Four-seam, center
The Titans' ace was dead serious in his second matchup with the one blemish on his otherwise perfect day.
Good.
Jeong Hanseong nodded and thrust out his mitt.
Shwooo!
In an instant, Jin Yuha's pitch rocketed straight into the heart of the strike zone.
Bwuuung!!
Namgoong Sung's bat whipped around with force against the straight-as-an-arrow pitch—no need for elite plate discipline here—but...
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
"Haa..."
It was a first-pitch matchup that exposed Namgoong Sung's clear weakness.
That's why the Golden Glove talk comes up every year for him.
Of course, Namgoong Sung was an excellent hitter. His elite eye was near-perfect, like he had an ABS implanted in his brain. However...
His physical tools aren't top-tier.
Unfortunately, the baseball gods had gifted him that sharp eye but skimped on the athleticism to match. That's why...
He crushes average pitches for hits, but anything above average leaves him helpless.
And Jin Yuha's stuff wasn't just above average—it was unequivocally the best in the league.
Tap tap.
Four-seam, high outside
Shwooo!
Bwuuung!!
"Strike!"
Tap tap.
Four-seam, high outside
Shwooo!
Bwuuung!!
"Swinging strikeout!"
Just the four-seam. Even repeating the same spot twice was enough to fan Namgoong Sung.
"..."
Namgoong Sung stared blankly at his bat from the box before trudging back to the dugout.
Sneer.
Jin Yuha watched from the mound, one corner of his mouth curling up.
Scary bastard.
Jeong Hanseong was grateful to be on the same team as him. Always.
Thwack!!
"Yuu~ You're the best!!"
"Tch, too bad."
In the stands, Jin Yusung clicked his tongue in disappointment while watching the game.
"Why?"
"I thought Yuha was gonna shatter another strikeout record."
"Isn't today the event celebrating his record-breaking Ks?"
"That's what makes it fun."
Mia and Jin Yusung chatted casually even with cameras all around them.
"Jack, wanna try this?"
"Nah, Stacy. It's gotta be disgustingly spicy."
"It's not. This level's mild."
"All you Jins suck at spicy food—how come only you handle it? You Korean or something?"
"You implying something about my mom?"
"...My bad."
Jin Yuha's mom and uncle were no different.
"Fine, Mia and I will share. You like spicy too, right Mia?"
"Yep!"
"That's right—to join the Jin family, you gotta handle spice. You're Korean after all."
"...Honey? When did this ridiculous rule start?"
"Ever since Yusung struck out to his son and came back all grumpy?"
"..."
It was only natural. As someone whose job was getting on camera, Mia was unfazed. Jack Gordon and Jin Yusung were pros at it too—life as a major league superstar, especially from a New York team, meant that.
"They don't shove cameras in your face like in the States, though. Korea really values manners."
Born as that superstar's little sister—and a beauty at that—becoming his wife, and soon to have a superstar daughter-in-law, Jin Yuha's mom felt the same.
"Hm..."
That's why they could focus on the game without issue, even in spots where others might bail.
"Jack, why the serious face?"
"Meteor, you don't feel it?"
Among them, Jack Gordon first sensed the odd vibe from the field.
"Feel what."
"Tch. That's hitters for ya... No, still shook from striking out to your son?"
"Hey! If I was 10 years younger, that was a homer! That ball's still flying!"
"Sure. Delusions are free, and I respect your freedom."
Jin Yusung, still reeling psychologically from the strikeout, was late to notice.
"So what's the big deal?"
Jin Yuha's mom shoved some tteokbokki into her husband's mouth as he started raising his voice, then asked her brother. Her husband's spicy sobs for water weren't important.
"Something wrong with our boy? Injury?"
Thwack!!
Her son was out there pitching.
"Problem? For Howard, it's the perfect scenario."
Jack Gordon eyed Jin Yuha heading off the mound to the dugout and spoke up.
"The lineup's completely devoured by the pitcher's momentum. Mostly strikeouts, but he hasn't burned too many pitches. Meaning..."
Then Jin Yusung, gulping cola to soothe his burning tongue, chimed in.
"On days like this, something big's bound to happen."
"Meteor's right. Happened to me as a player too."
"That Pirates game, right?"
"Yeah. Feels like 19 years ago now."
One day in the 2021 season. The Mets ace against the Pittsburgh Pirates became the franchise's second no-hitter owner after Johan Santana.
"4 innings, scoreless? Big deal. That's standard Yuha."
Senior Baek Jihun looked unfazed.
"Honestly, I'm relieved."
"Huh?"
"Walked the first guy, thought maybe something was off, but he snapped right back."
Jang Moonwoo stared in disbelief at Baek Jihun's words.
"...Calling that just 'normal' is insane."
"Ah, our buddy hasn't seen Yuha pitch much—hard to grasp, huh? Just accept it; life's easier."
Baek Jihun patted Jang Moonwoo's shoulder with a kind smile.
"Gotta accept you suck at the bat too. Right?"
That came from senior Jeong Suyeong, who'd singled, stolen, tripled in, and sac-flown home before returning to the dugout, tousling Baek Jihun's hair.
"Ow, c'mon hyung! What if I homer next at-bat?!"
"A homer?"
"...Hit, then."
"Fine—if you get a hit next, I'll call you big bro today."
Baek Jihun snorted defiantly.
"Hmph! You'll regret it. Watch!"
But...
Crack!!
"Out!"
It didn't happen. In the bottom of the 5th, Baek Jihun stepped up determined—only to ground weakly to the catcher on the first pitch.
"See? Told ya. Accept it; life's easier."
Top of the 6th. Score still a 4-run lead.
"Game's half over already."
One big inning could tie it, but no worries about that.
Their eyes are dead.
The Fighters hitters had mentally checked out halfway. The inning played out as expected.
Thwack!!
"Out!"
The 7-hole leadoff went down on a 159 km/h high fastball, infield fly.
Bwuuung!!
"Swinging strikeout!"
The 8-hole flailed awkwardly at a cutter up and in—did he swing or not?—fanning.
Thwack!!
"Out!"
The 9-hole at least got it to the outfield, but Frank snagged it without moving.
"...Draining."
Games this deflating were rare. If it was a strategy to sap their energy, it worked perfectly. But...
"Tch... Flow feels weird today."
"Ah, this rings a bell. Felt this recently."
The others seemed different without me. They returned to the dugout tense yet buzzing. Especially Baek Jihun hyung.
"No hits through 6? Then is today the day for a no—"
Thwack!!
"Gahhh! Ow!"
Baek Jihun clutched his head mid-sentence, yelping.
"Oops. Not sorry, though."
Senior Yoon Gangyeol had smacked him with his glove.
Super save.