Chapter 63

# Fire at Home -2-

#

Pitchers, when a pitching coach comes up to the mound, get annoyed thinking the coach doesn't trust them, and when the coach doesn't come up, they get mad feeling neglected.

There are rare exceptions, though.

For example, today's starting pitcher, Minseong, is one of those rare cases.

When the pitching coach came up during a crisis, giving up a walk and a hit, they didn't talk for long.

Minseong didn't sulk or waste time fiddling with the rosin bag after giving up a hit.

The fielders, standing in their positions on the vast field, can't help but get tired as the defensive innings drag on.

The time they can maintain concentration is limited. Concentration has its own rhythm.

In any case, Minseong is a good pitcher who helps the fielders stay focused and carry that momentum to the plate.

Sometimes, you just wish the pitcher would strike out the side with three strikeouts, but it can also be helpful when they handle the ball.

Even if they give up a run, it's less tiring if the interval isn't too long.

“Hey! Nol! If you strike out today, you're dead!”

“Just eat some chocolate pies and get some RBIs!”

Despite the scolding from the dugout, Nol casually wiped his helmet and flashed a V sign.

“Damn, really, wow...”

He's called Seonggol of Oceans because of his high school.

Maybe he's a real Seonggol. He has the Oceans-specialized mentality.

Even a tough fan near the bench burst out laughing at his gesture.

And senior Isiwuk, after being hit by a home run, struck out senior Yang Daegun and the Wolfpack, then hit Julio Ramirez's 159km/h four-seam fastball on the first pitch and sent it over the outfield fence at Sajik Stadium.

“Hey! Hey! Nol! Nol! Isiwuk! Isiwuk!”

Indeed, in baseball, one home run can turn the tide, no matter how much you get cursed. Especially in Oceans baseball.

Senior Isiwuk, who once said that if he was told to brush his teeth after eating chocolate pies, he would get dental implants, ran the bases with ease after hitting the home run, then entered the dugout, sending heart signs to the fans who had cursed him.

“God-Nol-”

Saying that, he got his helmet smacked by senior Yang Daegun.

“This, is, ugh, King Nol's, ugh, how, ugh, to hit, ugh, a home run, ugh, let me, ugh, teach you, ugh, sir? Ugh!”

He seemed excited too, and after hitting the home run, he picked up a bat and kept teasing senior Yang Daegun.

“Did you see, sir? Just like this, huh? Bam!”

“Yeah, I saw.”

“Short and sweet, bam!”

“Yeah.”

“Your swing shouldn't be as big as sir’s.”

Senior Yang Daegun chuckled.

“Watch closely. Sir. Next at-bat, okay? If you strike out helplessly like last time, the Sajik uncles will curse you again.”

“You’re good.”

“No, I’m doing this because it hurts me so much, so much, so much, so much to see sir get cursed. Here, watch my demonstration. I’ll teach you how to hit a home run.”

In the end, he was grabbed by the collar by senior Yang Daegun.

Maybe the new hitting coach's one-point lesson was effective.

We'll have to see.

#

Minseong was gradually increasing the ratio of two-seam fastballs. Although his control wasn't perfect, he didn't get too excited or upset over the result of the first pitch.

It would be nice if the team scored some runs.

Winning the game would be great, but even if not, fulfilling the requirements for a winning pitcher was Minseong's daily goal.

He had never been a player who received proper expectations or the spotlight.

It was already his fifth appearance in the first team, but he always thought he could be sent down at any time, so he didn't dream of a bigger future.

“Your two-seam is getting better! Minseong! If this keeps up, you'll be a world-class pitcher! I, Park Yihyun, am proud to have caught for you!”

Minseong liked the team's catcher and shortstop. The reason was simple: their defense was more stable than the other fielders.

“Thank you.”

“We don’t need such formalities between us!”

Yelling like that still needed some getting used to, but he accepted it.

He felt a connection with Park Yihyun because he thought they were somewhat similar.

Of course, if others heard this, they might think it was the year's biggest nonsense. After all, they looked completely opposite.

Minseong thought Park Yihyun was similar to him because of his tenacity.

And his attitude of always trying to learn from others.

Whenever Yang Daegun came into view, Park Yihyun would run up and shout.

“Oceans' 4th batter, Yang Daegun! If you could just look at my swing once, I would be eternally grateful!”

“Hey, yeah, I get it, I get it.”

Park Yihyun let out a joyful scream. Finally, Yang Daegun!

“Is this how I should hit?”

“...How about trying to grip the bat a bit shorter?”

“I’m grateful for your guidance!”

“No, not that much...”

Behind the dugout, Park Yihyun, excited to have Yang Daegun look at his swing, swung the bat wildly and, in his excitement, accidentally hit the wall with the bat and fell to the ground in pain.

“I’m fine! I’m a man with a steel palm, hahaha! Park Yihyun!”

Seeing this, the trainer sighed and sprayed something on Park Yihyun’s palm, muttering.

“I’m a man who gets all kinds of abuse whenever the players get hurt, Kim Sejun...”

#

[Live) Seoul Bulldozers 2 : 3 Busan Oceans.]

- Bottom of the 5th.

- 1 out, runners on 1st and 3rd.

- 3rd batter Kang Geonwoo [Today’s record: 1 home run (bottom of the 1st), walk (bottom of the 3rd)]

- Geonwoo, let's go!

- The Bulldozers aren't changing their pitcher and just keep going, lol.

- Are they trying to get a double play against God Geonwoo?

- They’re so stupid, lol. What’s a power pitcher against King Geonwoo?

- Bulldozers: Mr. Kang Geonwoo, please show mercy. If our foreign worker gets hit again, he might have to go home. Ramirez has five children to feed. Mr. Kang Geonwoo, please.

- Lol, are they trying to get sympathy votes?

- J.S., it seems our Geonwoo doesn’t listen to Yurina.

- Ask Yurina, not here.

- Bulldozers: Please, Mr. Kang Geonwoo, Ramirez is a poor friend. :(

- 1st pitch foul (146km/h)

- For a poor friend, his slider is really fast.

- If he could just take 10 km/h off his speed and give it to Minseong, we’d be happy.

- Look at the distance of that foul ball, lol.

- 2nd pitch hit (145km/h)

- Great!

- Let's go!

- Run, damn it!

- 3rd base runner Yoo Jun scores.

- So fast!

- Shout, King Geonwoo!

- D.D.D.D.D.D.

- 1st base runner Hwang Seokgyu scores.

- Wow!

- This is so delicious, Bulldozers!

- A Korean fan: Don’t throw a four-seam to Geonwoo.

- That was a slider.

- ??? Why is the slider 10 km/h faster than Minseong’s best pitch?

- Batter-runner Kang Geonwoo doubles to second, saving the game.

- 2 RBIs, double.

- Seoul Bulldozers 2 : 5 Busan Oceans

- Wow, 3 RBIs today for Geonwoo.

- Bulldozers: Damn, that jerk, he won’t even look at us once, damn.

- He’s mad, lol.

- If you’re mad, you hit too, lol.

- Thinking about it, it’s so frustrating. When we asked them to lose once, they laughed at us.

- Remember when they laughed at us for asking for a disaster support win because the application period was over?

- Bulldozers: You dirty bastards, you’re going to sink anyway, just lose to us. We’re better than the Pirates, damn. :(

- What the hell, Oceans will definitely win this year, lol.

- The era of Bulldozers is over, you bastards.

- O.J., now it’s the era of the Oceans dynasty.

- Win once and then talk about a dynasty, you idiots, lol.

#

After hitting a double against me, the Bulldozers' foreign pitcher was replaced. The reliever then gave up a two-run home run to senior Daegun.

Even after the score widened to a five-point gap, the Bulldozers didn’t replace their starting lineup.

Perhaps they thought that once the bullpen was activated against the Oceans, anything could happen.

Minseong finished his outing with 6.2 innings and 2 runs allowed.

The Bulldozers gradually caught up.

From 7-2 to 7-3, and then Seo Wooju hit a solo home run to make it 7-4.

But today seemed to be a day of explosions.

Case, who rarely hits, and Park Yihyun hit consecutive RBI singles, widening the score to 9-4.

Additionally, Yoo Jun, a high school rookie, hit an RBI double.

The score became 10-4 with that RBI.

When the lead reached six points, the manager replaced me. It was a consideration to give me a break since I hadn’t rested in a single at-bat since the season started.

I pride myself on having more experience in managing my stamina than the KBO veterans, but I didn’t argue with the manager’s decision.

Senior Kim Sewan, who replaced me at shortstop, made an error right away, and the defense wobbled, allowing the score to become 10-7.

I can’t forget the manager’s expression. I can’t read his mind, but I’m sure he thought:

‘Damn, what the hell did I do? Replacing Gang with Kim. I’m a fucking lunatic. For sure.’

Well, at least senior Jo Hyungoh, who hadn’t pitched in six days, allowed only one hit and finished the game with a scoreless save.

He throws three types of pitches—four-seam, two-seam, and cut fastball—without any off-speed pitches, and his pitches are decent when he’s in good form.

“Oceans will win!”

“Today too!”

“Oceans will win!”

“Tomorrow too!”

“Oceans will win!”

“Always!”

It must have been a thrilling game for the spectators. To put it nicely, it was thrilling, and to put it negatively, it was... well, that.

Neutral fans might have found it quite entertaining.

The offense exploded, the starter was replaced, the bullpen got hit a bit, and the closer finished the game.

In any case, the Oceans fans who filled Sajik Stadium went home happy.

Lately, not only Yurina but also my mother-in-law’s skin has improved.

What does Oceans mean to them?

#

“Geonwoo, you were so cool today?”

Of course, I was cool, right?

Today, I walked once in my fourth at-bat and went 2 for 3 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 2 runs scored.

On days like this, it’s okay to be a bit cocky.

“How much?”

In response to my question, Yurina hugged me tightly. Hmm, I don’t know why, but she seems like a dog.

I remember when we lived in the U.S., Yurina wanted to keep a dog.

I said no, and she looked really disappointed.

“Sis, should we get a dog?”

Yurina asked with a strange look.

“Dog? Suddenly? Why? Do you like dogs?”

“Kind of? Do you like dogs, sis?”

Yurina thought for a moment and said,

“Well, if I have to be specific, I do like them...”

But not enough to keep one, right?

She’s looking at me strangely.

Is she...

Confusing me with another woman?

“You looked like a really cute puppy just now.”

Yurina said, looking incredulous.

“What? Hey, Kang Geonwoo. Did you just call me a dog?”

I chuckled. Yurina, a bit embarrassed, changed the subject.

“No, I prefer cats over dogs.”

There’s no way she could confuse me with another woman. In my past life, and now, the only woman I’ve been with is Yurina.

The same goes for her. After the divorce, my mother-in-law kept calling, urging her to apologize and reconcile before someone else took her.

“Then, should we get a cat?”

“Your place? Or my place?”

“Not my parents’ place, but your place and my place.”

Yurina made a kimchi soup joke, and I suggested we go to a kimchi pancake place she liked.

“Ha...”

Yurina sighed, putting her hand on her forehead.

I saw her lips curl up slightly.

“It’s okay. Kimchi pancakes are vegetables, so you won’t gain weight.”

“What are you talking about...”

Despite her words, she started walking.

Hmm.

I think I know Yurina well, but there are things I don’t know.

I can’t ask the Yurina from back then.

I just had a thought.

Maybe the Yurina from back then was a bit lonely, which is why she suggested getting a dog.

If she really wanted a dog, she would have gotten one even if I said no.

So, maybe her suggestion was a signal that she was lonely and wanted someone to alleviate that loneliness.

“Sis.”

“Yeah?”

“You look happy.”

“Really?”

“A bit.”

“Since I look happy, how about a drink?”

I agreed, but Yurina said with a bright face,

“Who drinks during the season? You can drink alone, but you should have soda!”

I offered because you looked so happy, even though I don’t drink during the season.

“I’ll never let you feel lonely.”

“Why are you saying that all of a sudden?”

She tried to pinch my arm, but I stopped her by pressing my fingers hard.

“Wow, Kang Geonwoo, you’ve been working out a lot?”

“But I need to work even harder. To the point of exhaustion?”

“Why?”

“Because if I don’t, this team won’t win the championship...”

“Ah...”

Yurina’s agreeing face looked a bit sad.

Why did you have to join such a team...