Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Park Munho’s stolen base attempt shocked everyone watching.
But Jang Daeho, the commentator for the game, thought differently.
“That was definitely a worthwhile attempt by Park Munho!”
If that had come from anyone else, it would have drawn heavy criticism.
But Jang Daeho, who held the record for the youngest player to reach 300 career stolen bases, was completely serious.
“Park Siu’s knuckleball is truly incredible when you see it in person. If I were a hitter, I would not even be able to imagine how to hit it. But as a runner, it is a different story.”
“Is that not something only you could do, though?”
“Haha. Even if it is not me, I think the Wolves players are going to run themselves into exhaustion today. Just watch.”
But it took quite some time before his words proved true.
In the first inning, the hit-by-pitch seemed like a coincidence, and Park Siu did not allow a single runner until the third.
The knuckleball had more movement than usual today, but the real weapon was the hard knuckleball.
The ball left Park Siu’s hand looking like it would break in toward a right-handed batter.
But if you swung according to that path, you would never hit it.
It would suddenly drop into the right-handed batter’s box, or below, or even break sharply toward the left-handed batter’s box.
Of course, the Marines battery was not throwing this pitch without any pressure.
“Strikeout!”
Even after the umpire’s call, the fielders could not relax.
“The ball got away!”
The ball deflected completely to the side.
A dropped third strike.
Kang Jaeseong, the leadoff hitter, could not make it to second but reached first, becoming the first runner since the opening inning.
“Song Minseok is probably feeling the same kind of pressure as the Wolves hitters.”
Top of the fourth, no outs, runner on first.
“Green light. Okay.”
With the sign that he could run at any time, Kang Jaeseong immediately widened his lead, putting pressure on Park Siu and Song Minseok.
“This must be frustrating, right?”
But on the first pitch, Park Siu looked at him and then immediately threw home, which irritated Kang Jaeseong’s pride.
“Fine. I will go all the way to third.”
“Safe!”
His return was delayed because he was caught off guard.
It was almost a pickoff.
But Kang Jaeseong smiled instead.
“I do not know what he is thinking.”
That motion had increased the pitching time he had previously minimized.
Which meant it was now easier to steal.
At least, that was what Kang Jaeseong thought.
“Out!”
“…What?”
He did not even make it to second before being sent back to the dugout.
“Park Siu just made a perfect pickoff throw!”
Jang Daeho’s voice rose noticeably as he explained.
“Originally, Park Siu’s pitching motion is very compact, with a short slide step. But once the runner got on base, the movement of his right leg changed.”
“Oh, that is true.”
“Normally, pitchers use what is called a setup pitch when there is a runner on base, shortening their delivery time to pressure the runner. But Park Siu is doing the opposite. When Kang Jaeseong got on, he added a right leg motion, actually increasing his pitching time.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
“Yes, and that is the key point. Left-handed pitchers watch the runner at first while pitching. So you might think, if they are watching the runner, why do they allow steals? Can’t they just throw to first when the runner goes?”
“Strike! Park Siu is still aggressive. Please continue.”
“But it is not that simple. In the league, there are maybe two left-handed pitchers who can actually do that. One of them is Oh Gyeongsu from the Marines. I think Park Siu must have learned it from him.”
“And how does that relate to the right leg?”
“To understand that, you have to think like Kang Jaeseong. There is something called a timing steal. That is what he just tried. Basically, it means, whether you throw over or not, I am going to run this time.”
“I see.”
“When runners attempt a timing steal, they start the moment the pitcher lifts his leg. If the pitcher lifts his leg to throw home, he has no choice but to complete the pitch.”
“Right.”
“If Park Siu had used his usual setup motion, he would have been forced to throw home even after seeing Kang Jaeseong run. There would not have been enough time to switch to a pickoff. And even if he tried, it would have been a balk. But by lifting his right leg higher, he bought himself time to switch to a pickoff!”
Jang Daeho’s eyes sparkled like a child’s as he delivered a cruel conclusion.
“If I am right, today is going to be a very difficult day for the Wolves runners.”
This actually works.
It was half a gamble, no, a complete gamble.
If a fast runner took off with perfect timing, there was nothing I could do anyway.
I tried it thinking even if I gave up a balk, it was worth it.
I did not expect it to work this well.
Lifting my right leg higher was not uncomfortable.
It was actually my original pitching form.
Of course, I had to explain it.
“So you are saying you just did exactly what I told you?”
As soon as I returned to the dugout, Oh Gyeongsu came looking for me.
He let out a hollow laugh and muttered to himself.
“If it is like this, I am the one at a loss.”
“Should I give you another ball?”
“No, I am joking. You did well. Anyway, let us talk after the game.”
Just like he said, the game was not over yet.
Still 0 to 0.
We had one more chance to bat, but scoring looked difficult.
“Strikeout!”
Conan Gray’s pitches were just too good, and our hitters were swinging far too easily.
They did not show it outwardly, but I could feel them being conscious of me.
But honestly, I was not too concerned.
The opponent was an ace.
And the matchup was terrible for us.
I expected our hitters to struggle.
Still, it was not the same frustration I felt in my first season.
Back then, my opponents were mostly around my age or fourth or fifth starters.
Yet somehow, whenever they faced me, they pitched like it was the best game of their lives.
Compared to that, Conan Gray’s pitching was so good that even I could not help but admire it.
It would be nice to get the win, but if I just do my job, it will come naturally.
And sometimes, like this.
Crack!
“It is gone!”
Luck finds you.
“Wooooah!”
Rex’s roar echoed through the dugout for the first time since the opening game.
A home run at this moment.
Even if Rex had not faced Conan Gray last season, it still felt unexpected.
Of course, this was exactly why they brought him in.
Either way, the long stretch of zeros was finally broken.
Now all that remained was for the pitchers, including me, to hold it.
No, maybe just me.
My pitch count was at 70.
For a normal pitcher, it would be tight to finish the remaining innings.
But my arm still felt fresh.
“If you make an error, you are dead!”
Hearing Kim Mingi’s roar, I slowly stepped out of the dugout.
“Conan Gray is done for today! Aside from the one home run he allowed to Rex Graves, he pitched a nearly perfect game!”
Conan Gray was replaced after getting two outs in the bottom of the seventh.
The next pitcher was left-handed specialist Park Gyeongjun.
“Strikeout!”
“Park Gyeongjun does his job!”
In the next inning, the Wolves made another pitching change.
“The Wolves bring in their setup man, Woo Seonghun!”
He allowed one runner but fulfilled his role.
Even the closer began warming up for the ninth.
Meanwhile, the Marines’ mound was held by only one pitcher.
“Park Siu! Park Siu! Park Siu!”
Before the top of the ninth began, the entire Sajik stadium chanted his name.
Even the chairman quietly joined in.
Park Siu had earned it.
Eight innings, two hits, two walks, no runs.
105 pitches.
Normally, the closer Park Jeongwon would come in.
“But Park Siu is still on the mound!”
Park Siu stood on the mound once again.
Everything the Wolves had prepared to counter him had failed.
By the middle of the game, it had all collapsed.
Now all they could do was trust their hitters or hope for a bit of luck.
But even that small bit of luck was on the Marines’ side.
Kang Jaeseong’s sharp hit barely landed outside the foul line.
He stepped back expecting an ABS call, but when he heard strike, he lowered his head.
The ball soon returned to Oh Gyeongsu.
After that, it was one-sided.
The hitters, still unable to adjust to the knuckleball, swung helplessly.
“Strikeout!”
The final out landed in Song Minseok’s mitt.
After the opening game shutout that did not count as an official record, Park Siu now completed another shutout in front of the home fans.
“Waaah!”
He ran around trying to avoid teammates charging at him with water.
Soon, he was caught by Song Minseok and stood in front of the camera, completely drenched.
“Hello, Park Siu! This is Jang Daeho!”
“Yes, senior. Hello.”
“Congratulations on the shutout!”
Jang Daeho’s eyes gleamed as he asked.
“In the middle of the game, you started lifting your right leg when there were runners on base. Was that something Oh Gyeongsu taught you?”
“Yes, that is right.”
“I thought so! Back when I was playing, I used to have long stare-downs with Oh Gyeongsu at first base. It looked familiar. It seems like something that takes a long time to master. How long did it take you?”
“…He taught me today, and I just tried it.”
“…What?”
Only after answering did Park Siu realize what he had said.
Ah. I messed up.