Natural Disaster (2)
Changwon Rhino Park.
Just before the game started, the Rhinos players wore grim expressions.
In contrast, the Titans players showed a degree of composure on their faces.
Thwack!!
Thwack!!
The broadcast camera captured pitchers throwing in the bullpens of both teams.
The Rhinos' starting pitcher, Pedro Lopez. The Titans' starting pitcher, Jin Yuha.
The losing pitcher who allowed 7 runs in 3 innings. The winning pitcher who threw 9 scoreless innings.
Naturally, the scales tipped toward the latter, but that couldn't be helped.
As someone once said, baseball is round.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
"Hoo..."
The Rhinos' starting pitcher, Pedro Lopez, took a deep breath on the mound.
'Alright... let's give it a shot.'
Today's game wasn't just about the team's survival—it was a crucial matchup for Pedro Lopez's own future.
'There are a lot of Major League scouts here. I can't put on an ugly show like in Game 1.'
The reason Pedro Lopez had come to this distant Korean soil was, of course, to break into Major League Baseball. He'd actually drawn interest from several teams after solid performances in the KBO—up until that shocking loss in Game 1 of the championship series.
'Still, if I show well today, there'll be a team that wants me.'
Of course, it would be a tough battle. He knew better than anyone how fearsome the Titans' lineup was.
And even if he performed well, he might not get a decent offer. His fatal weakness—being unable to effectively pitch inside to lefties—was that severe. But still.
'If that's what it takes to make it to the majors...'
Pedro Lopez's dream would come true. Along with his teammate's dream, the one who'd had to quit baseball because of an injury from a hit-by-pitch.
Tap, tap.
Jeong Suyeong, the leadoff hitter who'd first cracked Pedro Lopez's perfect game in Game 1.
Whoosh!!
The first pitch to him...
Crack!!
An outside two-seamer.
"Foul!"
Jeong Suyeong swung as if he'd been waiting for it, but it was just a foul.
'Condition's good today.'
The two-seamer's movement was sharper than usual.
Crack!!
"Out!"
Something told him today would end well.
"The pitchers."
"Are all on standby in the bullpen."
"Got it. Total war today. If Pedro falters, pull the next one right away."
Rhinos manager Andonghwa had no intention of accommodating Pedro's desperate mindset.
His friend who'd suffered a major injury from a hit-by-pitch he'd thrown and ultimately quit baseball. The foreign pitcher's backstory of desperately wanting to make the majors for that friend's sake.
Compared to the team's victory, it was a trivial matter.
Craaack!!
"Out!"
Thump thump! Clap! Thump thump! Clap!
The familiar walk-up music blared.
One pitcher high-fived the dugout and took the mound.
Bottom of the 1st.
Song Jeongwoo thought to himself: Honestly, no answer.
It wasn't the kind of thought a team captain should have, but everyone would understand.
'How many times have we gotten owned by that guy...'
To players from every team in the Eastern League—no, the entire KBO—Jin Yuha was no different from a natural disaster. How could a human beat a natural disaster? But still.
'Does that mean we just sit back and lose?'
Of course not.
'No way.'
In the regular season, maybe. They might've thought, "Oh, it's Jin Yuha, we're screwed anyway," and given up deep down.
But this was the postseason. A do-or-die where a loss meant elimination. They couldn't just freeze up because of a natural disaster.
'Gotta at least flail around...'
Whoosh!!
The first pitch came in. No need to guess the pitch—it'd be a four-seamer anyway.
'In Game 1, I went for it right away.'
But it was a foul. Song Jeongwoo wasn't one to repeat mistakes. And.
'Flailing's supposed to be ugly anyway.'
Staring at the incoming ball, Song Jeongwoo laid his bat down flat.
Crack!!
A surprise bunt.
"Huh?!"
Ignoring the catcher's startled voice.
Pat pat.
Song Jeongwoo sprinted full speed to first.
'Please...!'
A high school rookie battery with elite defense. No room for complacency.
"I've got it!"
Sure enough, Jin Yuha fielded the perfectly placed bunt ball with quick reflexes.
Sliiiide.
Gritting his teeth, Song Jeongwoo dove headfirst as first base came into view.
Thwack!!
The batter touched the bag with a headfirst slide just as the ball smacked into the first baseman's mitt.
"..."
The first base ump struggled to call it.
"Safe!"
After some deliberation, he ruled safe.
"Uwaaaah!!"
Song Jeongwoo, his uniform caked in dirt from the first inning, roared from first base.
Sometimes, a mere mortal could pull off a miracle against a natural disaster.
"Whoa."
Honestly, he was surprised. Never imagined a bunt right from the start.
'But he's a MLB vet, after all.'
This bunt single wasn't just any hit. Veteran hustle plays like this usually boosted team morale. And Song Jeongwoo was the Rhinos' captain. So then.
'I need to drag that morale right back down...'
Whatever.
'Just do what I always do.'
Tap, tap.
Jeong Hanseong, behind the plate, seemed to think the same.
- Four-seamer
First pitch sign was four-seamer again.
'No. 2 hitter, Jacob Dominguez...'
A future MLB-caliber hitter, sure, but not one who could pounce on my four-seamer right away.
Whoosh!!
"Huh?"
I couldn't help but be a bit flustered after throwing.
'Another bunt here?'
The foreign slugger with over 30 homers this season had laid his bat down just like Song Jeongwoo.
Crack!!
The bunt rolled into the infield.
Pat pat.
I heard the runner sprinting to second.
"First!"
I grabbed the ball quick and threw to first as Jeong Hanseong called.
"Out!"
Got the batter.
'Hmm...'
But in the end, the Rhinos succeeded with the sacrifice bunt.
'Is this right?'
Just made him tilt his head a bit.
'Song Jeongwoo and Jacob Dominguez bunting...'
Could the next hitter deliver?
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
A former MLB player and a future one.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
Anyone else...
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
...wasn't a real threat to me. The Rhinos had no hitters who could threaten me.
'Cleanup hitter Baek Daegi?'
They called his draft class the golden generation, but.
'Honestly...'
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
No matter how talented, comparing to me was a stretch.
Thwack!!
"Strike!"
I'd dominated MLB, where only the world's best talents gather.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
For over ten years at the top.
'Come to think of it...'
Other teams were calling me a natural disaster or calamity lately.
'I had a similar nickname back then too.'
Back then, now—it was a nickname I quite liked.
Natural disaster or calamity. You can't avoid them, and even if you miraculously overcome one, it's just for an instant.
That's why miracles are miracles—they don't happen often.
Thwack!!
"Strike three!"
Vrooom!!
"Swinging strike three!"
Crack!!
"Out!"
Top of the 3rd.
Craaack!!
No. 8 hitter Jeong Hanseong ripped a mistake pitch and took first.
Thwack!!
"Ball."
No. 9 Baek Jihun grinded out a walk.
'Familiar situation...'
One out, runners on first and second. Pedro Lopez was ready to wash away the bad memories from Game 1. But.
"What?! I can keep going."
"Bench's call. Hand it off to the next guy."
Pedro Lopez voiced his displeasure.
"Next hitter's a lefty. If you give up even one run, you think we can win? Against Jin Yuha?"
"...Damn. Don't know who's next, but tell him if he allows runs, he's dead."
But after hearing the pitching coach, he nodded and stepped off the mound.
"Ha... let's somehow hang on."
The Rhinos' flailing to withstand the natural disaster Jin Yuha was just getting started.