Chapter 4

5 seconds later, the bulletin board is visible! Chapter 004

1. What is this ridiculous... (4)

The 7th batter of the Missiles stepped into the batter's box, glaring sharply at Kim Jin-soo on the mound.

'Kim Jin-soo... He's not bad for raising my batting average.'

However, the previous batter had hit a curveball that was called a ball, and it resulted in a flyout to the second baseman, which bothered him.

'I should have made him throw as many pitches as possible. I should have seen one more and then stepped in, what would I do if I hit it?'

He wanted to observe Kim Jin-soo's pitches more from the on-deck circle.

'Well... Still, it's Kim Jin-soo. He's an easy pitcher, so if I hit it properly, I'll get a good hit. If I get one more hit today, it'll be my third already.'

Thinking this, the 7th batter of the Missiles decided on the pitch he would aim for.

'Four-seam fastball. Whether it comes in or breaks away, I'll swing at it. Kim Jin-soo, a pitcher like him, gets into trouble when the ball count goes against him.'

Then, the first pitch came.

Swoosh...

...Crack!

"Strike!"

With the umpire's loud call, the pitch was declared a strike.

It was a curveball that comfortably entered the strike zone, not the pitch the 7th batter of the Missiles was aiming for.

'Curveball? So, he threw a curveball for the first pitch again?'

The 7th batter of the Missiles thought, looking at Kim Jin-soo.

'Kim Jin-soo's control is secretly pretty good, but he's never thrown like this. The Buffaloes aren't a team that calls for such pitch combinations from the bench... So, this guy must be the culprit.'

The 7th batter of the Missiles glanced sideways at Lee Kyung-hoon.

'That's strange... He's the type who doesn't often give such strategic signs, even though he can hit a bit. What's gotten into him?'

However, the 7th batter of the Missiles wasn't worried.

'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I can think strategically too. ...Since he got me with a curveball, I'll use it once more. But, I'll throw it to a course that will be a ball.'

But.

Swoosh...

...Crack!

"Strike!"

The second pitch was neither an inside curve nor a breaking curve, but a four-seam fastball that entered the corner of the strike zone.

"Huh..."

The 7th batter of the Missiles sighed involuntarily and requested time from the umpire.

"Time."

"Time!"

The 7th batter of the Missiles stepped out of the batter's box and readjusted his batting gloves.

Of course, it was to buy some time to think.

'Why is this happening today?'

Of course, it's possible to get two consecutive pitches that you weren't aiming for.

In fact, such cases are much more common than not.

But.

'It's like... he's subtly avoiding the pitches I'm thinking of. It's as if he can read my mind.'

Swoosh...

...Crack!

"Strike! Out!"

"Damn!"

With three consecutive strikes, the 7th batter of the Missiles returned to the dugout without even swinging the bat.

Lee Kyung-hoon thought.

'The Buffaloes weren't the only ones to make significant substitutions of their starting players.'

When the score difference widened to 10 points, to be precise, when the Buffaloes made significant substitutions of their starting players, the Missiles also made significant substitutions of their starting players.

The Buffaloes seemed to have given up on the game, so the Missiles adjusted their strategy accordingly.

As a result, most of the more challenging batters in the Missiles' lineup were substituted and sat on the bench...

'That's how it happened.'

[Three up, three down, is this real? / Kim Sat GOD]

[The Missiles, these guys are the problem. Once they get rolling, they can't score / OO (223.62)]

[King Jin-soo, 1.2 innings, no earned runs 人人人人人 人人人人人人 / □ 1-02 (175.223)]

[King Jin-soo / BF’s]

[Light Jin-soo / BF’s]

[Great Jin-soo / BF’s]

[But, wasn't the pitch selection by Lee Kyung-hoon good in this inning? / oo (103.250)]

'If this is the future, there's no need to change it. I'll go with it.' And.

Click!

Crack!

"Out—!"

Just as Lee Kyung-hoon 'read,' the Buffaloes were retired in order in the top of the 7th inning.

As if to celebrate Lee Kyung-hoon, the words swayed leisurely from side to side and then disappeared.

"Wow... This isn't bad."

Kim Jin-soo, who had come down from the mound, said to Lee Kyung-hoon.

"What can I say? I had the feeling that the batter wouldn't be able to hit no matter what I threw. It's a bit hard to express in words..."

"The feeling that the batter won't hit the pitch he's aiming for?"

"Yes! That's exactly how it felt. It's really happening just as you said, senior."

"If you pitch with me, it will always be like this from now on."

As he answered, Lee Kyung-hoon thought about Kim Jin-soo.

'Kim Jin-soo, who is continuously being sent to the mound by the club, even as a losing pitcher. He's a prospect being pushed by the Buffaloes.'

Then.

'I'll make Kim Jin-soo the starting pitcher for the Buffaloes. If I can keep seeing these words... It won't be that difficult.'

And.

'I'll become Kim Jin-soo's personal catcher and secure playing opportunities. If that happens, my playing opportunities will increase, and my performance will improve. Although it's embarrassing to stake my remaining career on these unknown things...'

Choosing means and methods is the way of those who are not desperate.

Thus, Lee Kyung-hoon decided to survive by any means necessary.

'I'll keep going like this. And, I'll chase again in the next at-bat.'

Lee Kyung-hoon, who returned to the Buffaloes' dugout, took off his catcher's gear and prepared to step into the batter's box.

This game, Lee Kyung-hoon's career, was just beginning.

Just as the Buffaloes had done, the significant substitutions of the starting players weakened the Missiles' lineup considerably.

Especially.

The third baseman of the Missiles, who had been substituted in the bottom of the 6th inning, made another error.

With no outs and a runner on second, the Buffaloes' attack in the bottom of the 7th inning began.

(175.223)]

[Error, walk, walk / Kim Sat GOD]

[What are you doing, really / oo (103.250)]

The shaken pitcher gave consecutive walks to the next two batters, resulting in bases loaded with no outs.

The new pitcher of the Missiles struck out the 8th batter, making it one out with bases loaded.

"9th batter, catcher, Lee Kyung-hoon."

(175.214)]

[Now a 3-point difference! / oooo (58.231)]

[Whatever / eilos (175.223)]

[Look at the buffaloes, those scoundrels, having a great time / oo (103.250)]

[Lee Kyung-hoon, 6 RBIs today ci=i= c【三 / BF’s]

Click!

"Three—"

With Lee Kyung-hoon's left-field line drive double, all the runners of the Buffaloes scored.

10 to 7.

Now, the Missiles, who were leading by 3 points, were in a situation where they couldn't relax at all.

In a hurry, the Missiles brought in their key relief pitchers and barely prevented additional runs in the bottom of the 7th inning.

But.

Swoosh...

...Crack!

"Strike, out!"

The battery of Lee Kyung-hoon and Kim Jin-soo perfectly shut down the top of the 8th inning as well.

Although the Buffaloes were retired in order in the bottom of the 8th inning,

Kim Jin-soo's 'career pitch' continued to maintain a positive atmosphere.

Then, in the bottom of the 9th inning.

Taking advantage of the poor condition of the Missiles' closer, Kim Min-cheol, who hurriedly took the mound, the Buffaloes scored with three consecutive hits.

It was Lee Kyung-hoon's turn to bat.

[Crazy walk-off / BF’s]

[己 1_ 2 0 1_ 和己 2 1_ 何日 1_ 里 / □ i_o 己 (175.223)]

[Unbelievable / King Sat]

[God Kyung-hoon / oo (103.250)]

Lee Kyung-hoon smiled.

Click!

The high and fast hit soared over the left-field fence of the Buffaloes, ending the long game.

It was the first walk-off win of the 2020 season for the Buffaloes.

It was Lee Kyung-hoon's first walk-off home run.

Watching the rare scene of the Buffaloes' players celebrating on the field, the Buffaloes' manager furrowed his brow.

'Lee Kyung-hoon, this is not ordinary...'

Finally, the hidden dragon (潛龍) began to move.