Single Log Bridge (7)
The bases-loaded, no-out opportunity flew away due to the three consecutive strikeouts in the bottom of the 6th inning.
For the fans who came to watch the game in person, it was a situation that made their stomachs burst with frustration.
"You retarded bastards!"
"Three consecutive strikeouts, are you kidding me?!"
"You think we came here to watch this trash?!"
Countless pieces of trash, such as water bottles and empty disposable beer cups, flew onto the field.
It was a terrifying sight.
The ground vibrated to the point of numbness, as if an earthquake had struck.
On the other hand, the Wolves' dugout was in a festive mood.
"Nice! Good stuff today. Your control is a knife, a knife!"
"Should the fielders pack their bags? If you strike everyone out, how are we supposed to make a living?"
"Wow, your form these days is crazy, huh? What's up with you? Huh? At this rate, you'll literally be flying!"
The Wolves players slapped Han Min-woo's back enthusiastically as he returned after safely getting out of the inning.
Everyone's spirits seemed to be lifted by Min-woo's performance just now.
"Han Min-woo!"
Chief Coach Kim Young-seung called out to Min-woo, who had returned after escaping the crisis without allowing a run.
"Yes, acting manager."
"How's your condition? Can you go one more inning?"
At Chief Coach Kim Young-seung's question, Han Min-woo's eyes lit up.
'It's no different from receiving a bonus.'
Thanks to getting plenty of rest during the All-Star break, his condition wasn't bad.
However, he wasn't at 100% condition.
He had thrown a lot of pitches in the 6th inning, so not only had his
'If they send me out, it's good for me.'
Despite that, Han Min-woo brought up a famous quote from a legendary pitcher who formerly belonged to the Wolves.
"Don't ask me if I can go out; tell me to go out. I am ready to pitch at any time."
"…"
Chief Coach Kim Young-seung stared at him for a long time.
Soon, his mouth opened.
"Take care of the 7th inning too."
"Hello! I'm announcer Oh Yoon-ah from Busan LBS. We will be meeting today's hero of the game, Han Min-woo! Han Min-woo?"
"Hello, I'm Han Min-woo."
Han Min-woo bowed toward the camera in front of him.
The game ended in a 9-7 victory for the Wolves.
Han Min-woo had locked down the Dolphins' batting lineup through the 7th inning, and Myung Sang-woo and Kim Deok-min, who took over, finished the game just like that.
It was a game where a total of 6 home runs were hit by both teams combined.
Nevertheless, the MVP of today's game went to Han Min-woo.
Striking out three consecutive batters against the heart of the order in a bases-loaded, no-out crisis situation had a massive impact.
"You showed a truly amazing performance in today's game! You suddenly took the mound in the bottom of the 6th inning with bases loaded and no outs. Could I ask what was on your mind when you went up to pitch?"
The announcer held out the microphone she was holding.
Han Min-woo took a breath and answered calmly.
"I went up with the mindset of not giving up any runs at all costs. The atmosphere of the game was unsettling, so I thought if I gave up runs here, we would be robbed of today's victory."
"I see. You only pitched away against the 3rd batter, Hwang Jun-woo. Why was that…"
"What was on your mind when Park Tae-ho stepped up to the plate…"
"Did you already plan on going out in the 7th inning as well…"
"You gave up a walk to Gilbert and then faced Kim Ba-rae…"
Even after that, the announcer asked this and that for a while.
Since they were mostly about things within the game, Han Min-woo's answers flowed smoothly.
And finally, the announcer asked him that question.
"You originally played for the Dolphins before being traded to the Wolves. I know it's been a long time since you came back to Sajik Stadium. Could we hear a few words about how you feel?"
Han Min-woo closed his mouth for a moment.
It was a question he had expected. It was the kind of question a traded player always received when they performed well.
If he misspoke here, he would end up in controversy and get cursed at.
Han Min-woo answered with his wits sharpened.
"I still cherish the love the Dolphins fans gave me. I was really nervous and excited when I first came today. But I've already been traded to the Wolves, and I'm adapting well and continuing my playing career here. I won't forget this love and will work hard in the future. Thank you."
It was the textbook answer itself.
It was a message thanking them for the love they had given so far, and saying let's all do our best in our respective places going forward.
However, the announcer didn't let Han Min-woo off that easily.
"There were two bench-clearing incidents in today's game. There's a rumor that it all started because of you, Han Min-woo. What do you think about this?"
Han Min-woo smiled as if it was ridiculous.
'So this is how they're playing it.'
It was obvious.
Someone from the Dolphins had leaked this information.
The reason was unknown.
Well, they might have done it because they hated Han Min-woo, or they might have wanted him to get cursed at by the Dolphins fans.
The reason wasn't important.
What was important was how he responded here.
Han Min-woo opened his mouth.
"It's true that I got into an altercation with some players. But that's a personal matter. I believe that as a professional player, one shouldn't bring personal matters onto the field."
The method he chose was a head-on breakthrough.
He openly called out the Dolphins, who initiated the bench-clearing incidents in the 2nd and 6th innings.
The reaction was fierce.
└ (Dolphins) The fucker who was called a loss merchant until recently is getting cocky just 'cause he threw a few pitches --
└ (Dolphins) Yeah right, let's see how well you pitch from now on, fucker.
└ (Dolphins) I'm buying a Han Min-woo jersey. So I can tear it up ^^
└ (Dolphins) LOL Is that bastard crazy? You're in Busan, dude LOL Do you want to get stabbed on the street?
Baseball communities were plastered with curses directed at Han Min-woo.
To them, it didn't matter who started the fight or whose fault it was.
The only thing that mattered was that Han Min-woo had indirectly insulted the team they supported.
That was all that mattered.
However, the atmosphere took a sharp turn due to a video uploaded the next morning.
[Dolphins Fan Living in Seoul, First Visit to Sajik Stadium! Vlog]
It was a video uploaded by a YouTuber with less than 1,000 subscribers.
The beginning was ordinary.
"Hello! I'm a Dolphins fan living in Seoul, Seoul Dolphin! Ta-da! As you can see, I'm now in front of Sajik Stadium. I'll show you when I arrived in Busan and what I'll be doing from now on through this vlog!"
The background, which was in front of Busan Station, transitioned to the parking lot in front of Sajik Stadium.
Players getting out of their cars were entering the building under the escort of security guards.
"Baek Do-jin! Please give me an autograph! Just one autograph please! Thank you!"
"Park Tae-ho! Please give me an autograph too! Park Tae-ho! I came all the way from Seoul to see you!"
The YouTuber, who arrived early at Sajik Stadium, ran around requesting autographs from the Dolphins players arriving for work.
With a few exceptions, the players generally obliged the autograph requests.
The video moved inside Sajik Stadium, leaving behind the sight of a young fan rejoicing after getting an autograph.
"This is Block 132, Row 7 in the upper infield seats by the 1st base! It was really hard to book because you can see the cheerleaders right away. I'll film the pretty cheerleaders and upload it soon!"
The video captured the empty Sajik Stadium with its rows of seats.
Inside the field, the Dolphins and Wolves players were taking their places in their respective areas and training.
The YouTuber chatted with some fans who had come early for autographs, waiting for time to pass.
But suddenly, trouble broke out.
"Huh? Uh-oh! They're fighting, they're fighting!"
"What, what? Why are they fighting all of a sudden?"
Three Dolphins players approached a Wolves player who was running along the outskirts of the field, tapping him here and there on his body.
It looked almost like several high schoolers shaking someone down.
The situation after that progressed rapidly.
The players tangled up together, shoving each other and spitting out curses in a brawl. The YouTuber and the Dolphins fans covered the children's eyes and held their breath, waiting for the fight to end.
Eventually, the fight only ended when even the coaching staffs all stepped in.
After that, the video sped through as if fast-forwarded.
"The game is finally starting! Go Dolphins!"
The seats filled up, and the game began.
The bench-clearing incidents in the 2nd and 6th innings. The fans cheering for the players at the top of their lungs. And the sight of the cheering section falling dead silent as if doused with cold water after three consecutive strikeouts with the bases loaded and no outs.
The video contained alternating scenes of passionately cheering fans and the game.
"Ah, it was my first time watching a game in person, so it was a bit regretful but also fun. Next time, I'll show you around various places in Busan! Please like and subscribe!"
The video ended with the YouTuber leaving Sajik Stadium after the game.
And it spread to various baseball communities by the subscribers.
└ (Lunatics) LMAO So that's why they rushed in like they were going to kill him from the start? The batters' eyes were so fierce I thought the pitchers' faces were going to get holes burned in them LOL
└ (Griffins) Aren't the ones starting the fight Min Hyun-jun and Sung Min-ki? Anyway, those bastards' toxic hierarchy is truly something else tsk tsk
└ (Crocodiles) LMAO How embarrassing, they picked a fight first and still got completely destroyed LOL
└ (Wolverines) From Dol-phins to Trash-phins.. They traded him away themselves, so why are they picking a fight ㅠㅠ
Baseball fans generally implied that the Dolphins were in the wrong.
Then the Dolphins fans stepped up.
└ (Dolphins) No, where's the proof that we started the fight first?
└ (Dolphins) Just looking at it, Han Min-woo didn't greet them -- In a country of Eastern propriety, it's obvious to bow your head when you see a senior, isn't it?
└ (Dolphins) A pro doesn't bring personal matters onto the field? Am I the only one who feels Han Min-woo is pitching with gritted teeth? LOL Anyone can see there are emotions involved?
The Dolphins fans gritted their teeth and tried to frame it as Han Min-woo's fault.
But the more they did, the more public opinion worsened.
└ (Griffins) Old man.. That's what you call toxic hierarchy --
└ (Gladiators) It's not the military, where is the rule that a junior has to greet first? If that's the case, shouldn't everyone bow down to Jo Woo-chan? He's the most senior LOL
└ (Wolves) Han Min-woo is pitiful.. Thank goodness he escaped the Dolphins ㅠㅠ Let's be happy in our Wolves!
Han Min-woo always checked his daily quests first when he opened his eyes in the morning.
"What kind of quest is this now?"
[Daily Quest List]
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[
It was quite an ambiguous quest.
Perform an impressive feat? He wondered if there could be a more difficult quest than this.
Fans wouldn't feel much excitement over ordinary feats like getting a strikeout or finishing an inning with a 1-2-3.
'Are they telling me to go up on the mound and crap myself?'
He was thinking that and getting up from his seat when—
Ring!
[
[1,492 points have been awarded!]
'Huh?'
Han Min-woo tilted his head at the notification window that popped up before his eyes.
The daily quest was completed as soon as he opened his eyes.
'What did I do...?'
He had absolutely no idea what was going on.