Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Revenge Against Japan. (1)
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[Top of the 1st, Japan's turn at bat. Japan's lineup has leadoff hitter Genda Sosuke, No. 2 Otani Shohei, No. 3 Murakami Munetaka, cleanup hitter Yamakawa Hotaka, No. 5 Suzuki Seiya, No. 6 Tsutsugo Yoshitomo, No. 7 Maki Shugo, No. 8 Yoshida Masataka, and No. 9 Kai Takuya. Japan's lineup doesn't look much different from their last game against Korea, does it?]
[That's right. Japan really has no need to change their lineup. The only difference is that Otani's playing right field and Yoshida's the designated hitter.]
[Now, let me explain Korea's defensive positions. Battery of Sung-hyun and Lee Yong-gi, first base Gu Jin-mo, second base Ji Maeng-ho, shortstop Choi Joo-tae, third base Kim Soo-ho. Outfield from left: Ki Sang-ju, Lee Eun-chong, and Joo Seung-cheol in right.]
[Sung-hyun and Lee Yong-gi's battery is the same as last time against Japan, but the difference is Lee Eun-chong in center field.]
[What do you think is the reason for that?]
[It's probably to counter the right-handed pitcher Darvish by slotting in lefty hitter Lee Eun-chong. Aside from regular leadoff Choi Joo-tae, they've got three lefties in Lee Eun-chong, Ki Sang-ju, and Gu Jin-mo to prepare for the righty Darvish.]
[Yes, exactly.]
[Ha... Sung-hyun needs to show us what he's got... Just get through the first inning. Sung-hyun after the first is a different pitcher.]
[He really struggled in the first last time against Japan, didn't he?]
[Right. He needs to get through it clean this time...]
Tak!
Damn it, getting hit again? Please just reach it!
I chased after the softly hit ball.
"Mine! Mine!"
The center fielder and right fielder were charging in too. I heard the call and stopped, but damn it, the ball dropped in a spot none of us three could reach. Joo Seung-cheol scooped it up. He bent down right away to make the relay throw easier, but the runner from second had already crossed the plate.
"Ha, damn. If it hadn't been two outs... "
Joo Seung-cheol's quiet mutter. The scoreboard ticked up again. Top of the 1st, two outs. Score: 3-0.
...Sung-hyun had crumbled.
Back-to-back hits from leadoff Genda and No. 2 Otani put runners on first and third. Then a fly ball that could've been a home run turned into a sacrifice fly for one run. Runner from first, Otani, advanced to second, and No. 4 Yamakawa walked. Then Seiya's single added another run for Japan.
We somehow struck out No. 6 Tsutsugo, but now No. 7 Maki ripped a Texas leaguer, and the score was 3-0.
'Sung-hyun, no, Senior Sung-hyun. Please hold them back!'
If we gave up any more, the game was basically over. I looked at Sung-hyun with desperate eyes.
"Base on balls!"
And another walk. Now two outs, bases loaded.
"It's okay! You're doing great! Next up is Takuya, so get the out and head to the dugout!"
Choi Joo-tae encouraged Sung-hyun, but it didn't seem to reach him as sweat poured down his face.
Then the coach climbed the mound.
"Hyeon-ah. It's Kai Takuya. Hits .200 even in Japan. Defensive-type hitter. Get your head in the game and focus."
"...Yes."
Sung-hyun's unsure tone. Damn it, isn't this the guy with 95 wins in the majors? Without thinking, I walked up to the mound where the coach and battery were talking.
"Senior. If you don't have confidence, step off."
"Huh?"
"Ji Maeng-ho! What the hell?"
"......"
As I reached the mound, the other infielders started gathering too. Damn it, if you're gonna draw the sword, you might as well swing it.
"I said if you don't have confidence, step off. Ball-ball-ball hit, ball-ball-ball walk. What are you doing? Are the fielders behind you idiots? Or are you throwing in the towel after three runs?"
Once I broke the dam, all the thoughts flooding my head spilled out without passing through my brain.
"What are you doing? You crazy?"
Gu Jin-mo.
"Hey! There's a limit to giving the maknae slack! Get back to your position!"
Choi Joo-tae.
"......"
Kim Soo-ho.
"Coach, pull him? Just put in Hwan-young."
Lee Yong-gi.
They were all cursing me out. But the coach and Sung-hyun stayed silent.
"Coach. If the pitcher's not in the fight, what can the fielders do?"
At this point, backing down would look like total bullshit. The dice were already cast anyway.
Thwack!
Gu Jin-mo's glove smacked the back of my head. Pain shot through my skull.
"Can't even lower your eyes? We're all your seniors here! You playing baseball alone? Think you're hot shit? You little punk...!"
"Enough, enough!"
Lee Geum-hyeon yelled. The umpires were starting to walk over, noticing the commotion.
"Anyway, we've got a game to play. Hyeon-ah, it's oka—"
"Sorry. Getting chewed out by the maknae woke me up. Coach, give me another shot."
Sung-hyun cut off the coach and spoke. His eyes somehow looked different.
I wasn't thinking I'd awakened some fighting spirit in Sung-hyun or anything. I just vented my own frustrations.
"Hey. See you after."
"What, you seeing me now?"
"This punk to the end!"
"Gu Jin-mo!"
"Sorry, Coach."
"...Sorry."
Gu Jin-mo apologized first, so I had no choice but to face the coach and say sorry too. I didn't want to fight right now anyway. I just wanted to play baseball.
'Thought he was just some old guy, but he's got some charisma after all.'
'Well, he's a coach who won championships like it was nothing.'
'But you cool with talking to that punk like that?'
'If we lose here, who cares anyway.'
'Heh, true. But what's up with you bitching out without me even telling you to?'
'It's frustrating, okay? Our ace coming out and getting shelled by Japan.'
Sung-hyun had been my hero since I was a kid. It pissed me off seeing a guy like that folding without a fight against the Japanese players.
"Now get back and focus."
The coach's mound visit ended, and we all returned to our positions.
'Please, just throw strikes!'
We could get unlucky with back-to-back hits or a homer and lose. But shaking like a leaf and just throwing balls on this big stage? Unforgivable. Especially from Korea's top pitcher, the veteran of veterans, Sung-hyun.
And Sung-hyun's pitching began.
"Strike!"
Sung-hyun boldly fired a fastball right down the middle.
"Nice!"
"Keep it going like that, senior!"
"Nice ball! Nice ball!"
'Why not pitch like this from the start?'
Crack!
The high pop-up to the infield was handled by shortstop Choi Joo-tae, ending Japan's long top of the 1st.
"Hey, follow me back."
Back in the dugout, quiet Kim Soo-ho—who rarely spoke—called me and dragged me to the back. Not unexpected. But I figured it'd be Gu Jin-mo...
"Hey. Think you're somebody now that you're on the national team?"
He was shorter than me, but hearing quiet Kim Soo-ho say it made my heart sink. Like I'd done something terribly wrong...
Yeah, I messed up. Yelling at a pitcher on the mound like that? Not even amateurs do that. I lost control because of the last loss to Japan.
Maybe I was burning with rivalry against Otani all by myself too.
"...No. Sorry."
Smack.
Kim Soo-ho's glove tapped my bill. The weight made my head bow automatically.
"Think your seniors are pushovers 'cause we go easy?"
"No."
Smack.
"You the only one wanna win?"
"No."
Smack.
"Don't act childish. Every move you make is on broadcast, the whole country watching."
"...Got it."
Come to think of it, Woo Gwan-hyung said something like that. In Australia, every action represents the country, so be careful.
"You mouthed off to Senior Sung-hyun 'cause you got confidence, right? Hope you can back it up with skill."
"...Yes."
"And apologize to Senior Sung-hyun when he comes out."
"Got it."
Screech. As Kim Soo-ho finished, the tunnel door opened again.
"Hey! You crazy? This punk didn't learn after last time?"
"Hey."
"...Yeah?"
"I already chewed him out, so leave it. Do it after if you want. It's during the game."
Gu Jin-mo looked a bit thrown by Kim Soo-ho's words. Me too.
"...We'll talk later. Show up in my sights one more time."
"Jin-mo senior, you're up on deck."
"Already? Got it."
Coming out of the tunnel, Choi Joo-tae was at second.
"Hey, what happened."
"Bro, what was that? Seniors are pissed."
"None of your business. Explain the situation."
"Joo-tae senior walked, Eun-chong senior hit a grounder double."
That's why second? Ki Sang-ju was at the plate. No. 4 Gu Jin-mo hurried to grab his gear and head to the on-deck circle.
"Hey. Cheer loud."
Kim Soo-ho, who'd come up beside me, was watching.
"...Yeah. Ki Sang-ju, launch one!"
"You not cheering?"
"Ki Sang-ju senior, fighting!"
I raised my voice for Jang Woo-ju too, so the sparks wouldn't fly his way. Yeah, damn it, let's just cheer!
"Ki Sang-ju, send one!"
Crack!
-Woooaaah!
Ki Sang-ju ripped an RBI single through the shift. Fast-footed Choi Joo-tae scored...
"Safe!"
One run back! The game wasn't over. But Darvish wasn't easy. He struck out Gu Jin-mo next and flew out Kang Han-beom.
Still, clawing one back early was huge. Let's keep chipping away.
[Sung-hyun wraps up the 2nd on just 11 pitches! The Sung-hyun we know is back!]
[Ah, perfect! The ball's sharper than in the first. That infield huddle in the first definitely had an effect.]
[Wonder what they said? He turned into a different pitcher once it was two outs in the top of the first.]
[Usually not much talk. Seeing Gu Jin-mo lightly smack maknae Ji Maeng-ho, probably just some banter?]
[Glad Sung-hyun found his form. The Sung-hyun after the first!]
[One downside: 51 pitches through one and two. Only 39 left now.]
[Now to the bottom of the 2nd for Korea.]
"Committee member, what's your take?"
Ad break after the inning. The caster, face grim, tossed the question to the color commentator.
"Ha, looks tough... Even if Sung-hyun exits and Jeong Woo-seong holds for 2-3 innings, no one to close it out."
"But we've got other pitchers, right?"
"Tch. Can they hold Japan's kids? They do well in KBA... But honestly, in Korea even failed Japanese imports play ace. Probably tough."
"Yeah... So we need offense then."
"Gotta turn it into a slugfest. Assuming Otani doesn't pitch—even one inning if it gets dire. Ha, hope we win."
"Ah, looks like we're starting soon."
At the PD's signal, caster and commentator donned headsets again.
[Bottom of the 2nd for Korea, attack starts with No. 6 hitter Joo Seung-cheol.]
[Joo Seung-cheol. As everyone knows, son of Joo Hyung-jin. And Joo Hyung-jin means what? The guy who crushed homers against Japan in Olympics and WBC, saving Korea from crisis every time. Will Joo Seung-cheol do like his father...]