Talented FA Catcher - Chapter 357
Only Krnovel
You don’t need three aces on a team – 1
#
The importance of today’s game has been discussed dozens of times already.
The first match of a short-term war is not simply the first game.
The winning team takes control of the series and has more leeway in operations.
On the other hand, the losing team must do everything in their power to somehow tie the score.
Even today, the aces of both teams are playing.
The more the two aces fight, the more reasons there are for them not to lose.
A must-win game.
In that sense, Ryan’s catch was worth more than just one out.
“Ryan! Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!”
Ryan, who received a standing ovation from the fans, entered the dugout looking embarrassed.
With two outs and no runners on base, to be frank, it wasn’t a crisis.
But the opposing batter is Pedro Sanchez.
He is a hitter who has the ability to change the game on his own.
The fans knew that too, which is why they gave Ryan a standing ovation.
Ryan waved to the fans and didn’t say much, but his hands were shaking slightly.
A trembling closer to joy than tension.
It was much better looking now than when I was overly nervous, but anything in excess is not good.
Well, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the afterglow.
I left Ryan alone for a while to get things ready for me to do.
From the moment I take off my catcher’s mask, there’s only one thing I have to do.
Score points to win.
The batting order was good.
Bottom of the 6th inning, starting with Bryant.
The Yankees’ mound was, as expected, headed by Jun Nakamura.
Through five innings, he allowed only three hits.
Even then, aside from the first inning where he scored on consecutive hits, he only had one inning where he got a hit.
But even for Jun Nakamura, who seemed perfect, one chance comes.
“Ball! Base on balls!”
Just like now.
Bryant managed to stop the bat that was dragged out, allowing the first leadoff hitter to reach base.
And the batter who can make the most of that opportunity is McCoy.
-Wow!
It was a simple swing, and it was impossible to hit Jun Nakamura’s ball with that kind of swing.
But at least the minimum goal was achieved.
“out!”
He was out, but he allowed a runner to reach second base, so now there is one out and a runner on second base.
Before I could even get to the plate, White got up and walked to the mound.
Not only White, but the entire Yankees infield was there.
I don’t know what they were talking about, but after the conversation, White came back.
“curious?”
“If you’re curious, I’ll tell you.”
“I want to, but I don’t know.”
This is something different.
I don’t know if he really doesn’t know or if it’s some new psychological warfare, but if his goal is to make me curious, then he succeeded.
Jun Nakamura’s pitching began without any exchange of signs, as if the ball had already been decided.
-Ta-aak!
“Foul!”
Oh, what a pity.
Usually in these cases, there are a lot of strikes so I tried to aim for it but the timing wasn’t right.
Since I had missed such a good opportunity, I came out of the batter’s box for a moment to calm down, and I heard White muttering.
“I expected it, but it’s as expected.”
It didn’t sound like he was talking to me.
In that case, the only one left is Jun Nakamura.
What the hell were you talking about on the mound?
#
‘This is my choice.’
Before today’s game, Jun Nakamura said he would even throw an intentional walk if necessary.
That was true.
And a little while ago, when Mike White came to the mound, he said to Jun Nakamura.
‘There’s a sign from the bench that it’s okay to throw an intentional walk.’
Intentional assassination is not an ordinary operation.
The decision-making power usually lies with the manager, as it can determine the outcome of a tight game.
The Yankees bench gave that option to Jun Nakamura.
It may be irresponsible, but it was a courtesy to Ace and a proof of trust.
Jun Nakamura remained silent after hearing Mike White’s words.
But Mike White said the decision was not made until the umpire came to the mound.
‘If you can’t make a decision, decide on the next pitch. Type of pitch: fastball. Course: throw wherever you want. If you throw it into the zone, you’re facing Kim, and if it’s a ball, it’s an intentional walk.’
The result was a dangerous first pitch.
‘I meant to reject you, Kim Soo-ho.’
In fact, Jun Nakamura thought about intentional walks before the players left the mound.
But the reason I changed my mind in the end was because he was the Yankees’ ace.
His back number is 0.
The Yankees’ last remaining single number, and the man who could very well become the number’s eternal owner.
That was Jun Nakamura.
That’s why Jun Nakamura changed his mind at the end.
‘I’ll beat you here.’
As the Yankees’ ace and Kim Su-ho’s rival, it was the right choice.
And now it’s time to tie up that choice.
Mike White gave a sign as if he had been waiting for Jun Nakamura’s choice, and Jun Nakamura nodded and took a calming breath.
Otherwise, I felt like my heart would burst.
And the moment when the ball, which had been powered up, met Kim Su-ho’s bat.
-Taaaaah!
Jun Nakamura raised his hand, confident of victory.
‘I won! Kim Soo-ho!’
Left fielder Pedro Sanchez, who checked the location of the ball, started running toward the fence and soon stopped in one place.
Unfortunately, he didn’t stop to catch the ball.
There is only one reason why he stopped.
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
The ball landed in a place no outfielder could catch.
The meaning of that home run was simple.
It was the moment when the score, which had been balanced between the two aces, finally tilted to one side.
‘Kim Soo-ho.’
It was the moment when a genius learned the truth he had been ignoring.
#
“Strike out!”
Our second pitcher today, Henney, struck out the first out and leisurely adjusted his hat.
Snickers tried to finish the game by himself until the end, but Long’s words immediately broke his stubbornness.
Snitker, who held the Yankees’ batting lineup to just one run for eight innings, was sent down.
But I don’t really have any major concerns.
-Wow!
“out!”
Because everyone here knows how perfect Henny is in episode 9.
There’s a lead of two points, not one.
“Strike out!”
Henney, who caught the Yankees’ last batter with a pitch that was a mixture of boldness and composure, roared with an uncharacteristic celebration.
It was a very intense and important first game.
Having won the most important game of the season, it is now time to prepare for the next one.
The second match is tomorrow.
The Yankees’ starter will likely be No. 2 Harrison Burke, but it wasn’t clear until the announcement was made.
On the other hand, we have already been decided.
Lynch, of course, appears.
“Kim, what do you think? Should we talk at their house today?”
“Who cares?”
Lynch’s actions may seem frivolous to others.
Especially when talking to Stroud, he is extremely childish.
But I wasn’t too worried because I knew how much Lynch was serious about baseball.
Even more so since there’s a dedicated Lynch healer named Stroud.
“We already talked about it last time. Get some rest today and let’s come back tomorrow and talk.”
“Really? That’s too bad. There’s nothing we can do. Let’s just go, the two of us.”
“Get out. Not today.”
So Lynch left it to Stroud the next day.
“What a fantastic day! Perfect for my World Series debut.”
Lynch appeared relaxed, as if he wasn’t nervous at all.
As if to explain the reason for that leisure, the ball felt powerful, and the control was also perfect without a single flaw.
It was just a pitch from the bullpen, but it felt better than Snickers’ pitch yesterday.
“Are you really killing me today?”
Lynch must have felt it too, as he finished his bullpen pitching with the aforementioned expression.
But baseball is still difficult.
-Taaaaah!
None of us expected that Lynch, who had been pitching so well, would be gone after less than three innings.
Fortunately, Wellington, who came up after Lynch, pitched long innings, so the bullpen could be conserved as much as possible.
However, they were unable to overcome the gap that had formed from the beginning, and ended up losing 9-4.
It was a doubly painful defeat because the losing pitcher was none other than Lynch.
#
Our goal was obviously to win both games at home.
The ultimate one-two punch: Snickers and Lynch.
There’s even the advantage of having a home there.
A second consecutive win seemed inevitable until the thrilling victory in the first game.
But the Yankees didn’t get to the World Series by luck either.
In particular, the batting lineup that had not performed well in the first game exploded and gave up the second game.
Now back to square one.
No, it looks like we’re being chased.
Games 3, 4, and 5 will be played at Yankee Stadium.
Although we don’t discriminate between home and away games, there is a clear advantage to playing home games.
Especially in a big game like this.
So the third game was really important.
If you get pushed here, you might get swept up in the atmosphere and give everything away.
The player who held that key was, of course, Stroud.
In the Division Series, he was the losing pitcher, and in the Championship Series, he was taken off the mound before completing the 6th inning, but then won the game in a comeback with a no-decision.
To be honest, my results weren’t that good.
Still, the manager put Stroud in as the starter for Game 3.
Of course, Williams, who had not yet pitched, was on standby in the bullpen from the start to provide some insurance.
But the best part is that Stroud does his part.
The question is how the defeat of his best friend Lynch will affect Stroud.
Most players took a day off to recover from their defeat.
On the other hand, Stroud, who had been feeling pressured about away games even before the start of the World Series, seemed a little shaken when Lynch collapsed.
Maybe Lynch’s appearance overlaps with his own appearance when he lost.
“Kim. Look at me.”
And I wasn’t the only one who noticed that.
“How’s that idiot? Is he still like that?”
“Hmm. Maybe?”
“You idiot. I’m the one who lost, so why are you causing more trouble?”
Lynch said he didn’t like it, but in fact, when you think about Lynch’s reaction when Stroud lost, the two were similar.
Anyway, the reason Lynch came to me was, of course, because of Stroud.
“Tsk. I still have to take care of it.”
In fact, the one who is having a harder time than anyone right now is probably Lynch.
But seeing them come out like this makes me feel like their relationship is really strong.
“He’s in his room now. Let’s go together.”
Arrived at Stroud’s hotel room with Lynch.
But no matter how many times I ring the bell, there is no sign of life.
“Where have you been?”
First, I was trying to search here and there to find Stroud’s whereabouts, when suddenly the door opened.
“What is it?”
There was Stroud yawning and scratching his head.
“…Ugh, get out.”
He grabbed Lynch, who was trying to go back, and forcibly entered Stroud’s room.
“What are you doing here all of a sudden?”
“I was also dragged halfway by Lynch.”
Naturally, Stroud’s gaze turned to Lynch.
“hey.”
“uh.”
“I’m leaving the Diamondbacks at the end of this season.”
“…what?”
“Don’t make me say it twice. I’m going to another team, not the D-Backs, as a free agent. So there are only a few days left before you and I are on the same team.”