Chapter 66

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Translator: Wjin

Chapter: 66

Chapter Title: Clutch Closer and Veteran Blast

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Cha Tae-hyun's home run brought joy to the Phoenix fans, but it didn't last long.

"Strike! Out!"

As Lee Sang-jin struck out and the teams switched sides, the fans suddenly remembered a fact they'd forgotten.

"Can we hold this one-run lead...?"

"If they tie it up, I really won't get any sleep tonight..."

Bottom of the ninth, the Angels' lineup was 8-9-1. It was their lower order, sure, but considering they'd clawed back four runs in the eighth...

One run wasn't nearly enough to feel safe.

Amid the fans' growing anxiety, the Phoenix brought in Kim Gun-hyuk as their closer.

"No way the closer's Kim Gun-hyuk again this year...?"

"I have no idea how long they're gonna keep running him out there..."

"Hey... Gun-hyuk hyung's still solid, though. Imagine last year without him—we'd have eaten at least ten more losses..."

Glancing at the stands, Kim Gun-hyuk thought to himself,

'These people are too damn nice, seriously.'

He was a closer nearing retirement, signed for a whopping 3 billion won, yet Phoenix fans grumbled a bit but ultimately cheered him on.

Not that he should say it this way, but... crudely put, they were suckers?

They'd rave about how "heartwarming" it was that Gun-hyuk hyung skipped rest days for extra training.

They got emotional over his voluntary four-game stretch because the bullpen couldn't be trusted.

Even after a blown save, when tears welled up in his eyes, they'd shout, "Thank goodness we have Gun-hyuk hyung! Don't cry!"

All he'd felt was pissed that he took 3 billion and didn't earn it.

No matter how he sliced ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it, Phoenix fans were way too pure. What was so great about a pitcher pushing forty?

Kim Gun-hyuk glanced back at the scoreboard.

Just a one-run lead. Thrilling, sure, but he wasn't tense at all.

If anything, he felt a spark of excitement. Sorry to say it, but last year the infield defense had been a mess. This year's new imports looked solid.

He'd often thought his body hadn't rusted as much as people said—the real issue was the infield.

Today would prove it.

The batter stepped in, Kim Gun-hyuk took a deep breath, and fired his first pitch.

Crack!

A mishit liner toward third with reverse spin caused an awkward bounce, but Cha Tae-hyun fielded it calmly and threw to first.

"Out!"

"Nice catch."

Kim Gun-hyuk grinned and flashed a thumbs-up to Cha Tae-hyun.

'The infield defense really has changed.'

He'd always been a two-seamer specialist for inducing grounders. He'd just rarely thrown it due ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to shaky infield play.

'Now I can let it rip without worry.'

Inhaling deeply, Kim Gun-hyuk fired again.

"Striiike!"

The fans weren't impressed by Kim Gun-hyuk's velocity, but he was satisfied.

'Velocity hasn't dropped much.'

The corner of his mouth twitched up as he gripped the two-seamer again and unleashed it.

Crack!

The bat met it again, sending a screamer toward second. Fast grounder—looked tough to handle.

'This one's gonna sneak through... huh?'

"That's Andy ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠John!"

Andy dove and snagged what looked like a sure hole. Kim Gun-hyuk's grin widened, and Phoenix fans rose, victory in sight.

Thump-thump.

Rubbing rosin, Kim Gun-hyuk was surprised by his pounding heart.

He hadn't felt this tense since joining Phoenix.

But it wasn't bad. If anything, it sharpened his focus.

After a moment's thought, he gripped the two-seamer again.

'Time to trust the defense. My two-seamer's still got it.'

He hammered two-seamers relentlessly. Full count battle, bat finally came around.

"Huh...?"

He'd aimed for a grounder.

"Strike! Out!"

The ball grazed the bat and sucked into the mitt.

"That's it!!"

Kim Gun-hyuk, uncharacteristically, yelled and pumped his fist.

He'd always loved baseball, but leading a win with his own performance? Even better.

Phoenix's dismal defense had just robbed him of the taste until now.

"Gun-hyuk's still got it!"

"Love you Kim Gun-hyuk! Three more years!"

"Knew you could do it, Gun-hyuk hyung!"

Fans linked arms, jumping from their seats. Kim Gun-hyuk smiled, bowing to the stands.

"Thanks, Gun-hyuk hyung!"

"Ultimate closer Kim Gun-hyuk!"

A simple polite bow, and they lit up with cheers. How easy were these fans?

Before heading to the dugout, he picked up a loose ball and tossed it into the stands.

Just a rolling ball, and they went wild with joy.

Managing his image like this was sucking the marrow from Phoenix fans...

Oblivious to his devious plan, the fans waved frantically in delight.

Surprisingly, many—even non-Phoenix fans—predicted a Phoenix win in game two against the Angels.

Rotation had their fourth starter up: Phoenix's Eric Wood, the mercenary.

"How stacked is your rotation if a merc's your four?"

...Well, spoiler: we lost.

Badly. 6-12. Now we're heading to the team bus.

Bullpen implode again? Nope.

Starter Eric Wood imploded. Gave up 3 in the first, 7 by the third, yanked after 3 innings.

A gruesome debut.

"Honestly, I always thought Eric Wood was kinda meh."

Shin Si-woo sidled up beside me.

"Yeah? How'd you know?"

"I'm his battery partner. Catch his stuff every day—can't miss it. Looks okay, but the ball just dies. You feel it when you snag it."

I'd never caught, but even watching, his pitches looked flat.

Spring training, he didn't get shelled—probably just exhibition luck.

Not shocking. Merc busts happen all the time.

Especially for Phoenix.

"Si-woo! C'mere a sec."

"Yessir!"

Shin Si-woo dashed off to Shin Tae-seop. Now Lee Ro-woon snuck up slyly.

"Cha Tae-hyun."

"Yes?"

"I'm trash..."

Sudden...?

"What're you on about now?"

"Seeing Eric Wood crumble today... I was happy."

...Yeah, that's pretty trashy.

"Why?"

"Made me think... maybe I can get back in the rotation."

Too honest—I chuckled despite myself.

Lee Ro-woon had been bumped from fifth starter to bullpen after my successful starts.

"Go ahead, laugh. Trash like me deserves it."

"Nah... that was a sneeze. Anyway... can't a guy dream? That's passion as a player... right?"

"Is it...?"

Trashy thought, sure, but Lee Ro-woon needed encouragement.

Might pitch tomorrow—gotta care for his mentality.

"Honestly, I think it's amazing you took the bullpen switch so calmly. True sacrifice for the team."

"!!"

His eyes widened.

"You're right... Noble sacrifice for the team. Not bad."

Seemed to hit home. Praise addict, this one. More?

"Exactly that mindset. Bullpen's got its own charm. When the team's cornered, that do-or-die moment—Ro-woon sunbae shuts it down. Sounds good, right?"

His lips curved up; hand on my shoulder.

"Yes! That's it! Cha Tae-hyun! I'll prove myself in the pen and climb back to starter!"

Mentally sorted, starter greed lingering though.

"Right. Good luck tomorrow—"

He bolted to Lee Seung-tae without hearing me out.

"Lee Seung-tae. No complete games tomorrow."

"Huh...?"

"Your arm's precious. I'll protect it. Trust me."

"Ah... yes, sir..."

Lee Seung-tae's baffled face cracked me up.

Tomorrow's game gonna be fun.

"Everyone, get your heads straight. Treat this like a must-win. Got it?"

"""Yes!"""

The players roared back, but the manager's eyes brimmed with worry.

First three-game set since opening day, against last-place Phoenix—and a sweep was iffy, let alone a win.

Others called Phoenix a tonic, dying to face them quick. Handing them a win? No way.

But game one top of the first went sideways fast.

Crack!

"Number two hitter Lee Jun doesn't miss the hanging slider! Clean double through left-center! Runner from first to third. Runners at second and third now."

The Angels manager sighed.

"Tonic my ass... It's poison."

Fifth starter, top-tier in the league, getting rocked from the jump.

Legs jittering as he watched,

"Third pitch, dropping forkball—he gets the bat to it. But... doesn't go far. Shortstop fly out."

Third batter Andy flied out; he finally exhaled.

But just a breath.

"Cha Tae-hyun next...? This'll be rough..."

Cleanup hitter Cha Tae-hyun strode to the plate.

Rookie punk already owned multiple aces.

Manager envisioned the homer already.

He stood and signaled the walk.

"Ball!"

"Take your base!"

Watching Cha Tae-hyun walk, Lee Sang-jin nodded.

Dodging the rookie for him stung the pride, but rationally? Smart.

Last year, he'd hit into tons of double plays.

Avoiding post-opening hot-streak Cha Tae-hyun made sense.

He rationalized it away.

"Hyung, that's cold. You were our cleanup not long ago."

Emotions slipped to his old catcher sunbae.

"Hey, Sang-jin. What can ya do? I'd pitch to me over him too."

Lee Sang-jin was speechless. Yeah, probably.

Bitter smile as he stepped up.

"Hey! Lee Sang-jin! You pissed?! Don't let 'em punk ya like that!"

A booming voice from the stands.

"Yeah! Phoenix Lee Sang-jin gettin' disrespected! Smash it!"

"Smash no matter what! Homer or bust!"

Lee Sang-jin chuckled.

He knew they'd curse if he struck out.

Still...

Not a bad feeling.

The pitch dropped slow—ideal forkball arc.

Tracking it meant he'd reacted perfectly.

His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠hefty frame exploded.

CRAAAAACK!!!

Massive rip echoed as the ball soared skyward.

Catcher flung his mask. Pitcher whipped around. Lee Sang-jin just smirked.

Tracked it to the stands.

'Tae-hyun tosses the bat real nice.'

Cha Tae-hyun had flung his bat with flair; Lee Sang-jin circled the bases leisurely.

Passing third, another roar from the stands.

"Hey! Lee Sang-jin! Knew you had it!"

"Who disrespects Lee Sang-jin!"

"Nobody disses Sang-jin hyung's baseball purse!"

Grinning wide, Lee Sang-jin shouted back.

"Yes! Lee Sang-jin's not dead yet!"

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