TV
We barely prevented the abolition of ‘Best Baseball’
In the 71st episode of JTBC's entertainment program 'The Strongest Baseball', which aired on the 18th, a match was held between the Strongest Monsters and Yeoncheon Miracle.
The Strongest Monsters were in shock after being swept by Gangneung Yeongdong University. Now, if they lose even once in the remaining two games, the pressure on the Strongest Monsters is even greater because they will immediately face the result of the abolition of 'Best Baseball'.
However, the opponent was the powerful Yeoncheon Miracle, who won the independent league championship cup for two consecutive years. Yeoncheon Miracle lost to the strongest Monsters last season, so they gritted their teeth and went into the game even more. Choi Soo-hyun also showed his will to win by wearing the strongest Monsters uniform instead of Yeoncheon Miracle.
Manager Kim Seong-geun selected ace Lee Dae-eun as the starting pitcher. Lee Dae-eun surprised everyone by appearing with her hair, which she had grown out for a year, neatly organized. He said, “I don’t think there’s any need to say anything about today’s game. “I will just throw it to my death,” he said, strengthening his resolve.
Yeoncheon Miracle, as the only strong team in the league this season to achieve a .700 win rate, took the lead from the first inning and pushed hard against the strongest Monsters. The strongest monsters immediately launched a counterattack. Starting with Kim Mun-ho's awakened double, Park Yong-taek tied the score with a sacrifice hit, and then Chung Eui-yoon's sacrifice hit turned the tide of the game.
Lee Dae-eun, who showed unstable pitching at the beginning of the game, also regained his original condition and easily dealt with the Yeoncheon Miracle hitters. Here, the bats of the strongest Monsters batters exploded, making the score 10 to 1 until the 5th inning.
In a situation where only one point was needed to call the game, Choi Soo-hyun completed the cold win requirement by adding one run with a triple that hit the fence in the bottom of the sixth inning. The mighty Monsters' bat showed no sign of cooling down. Then, Kim Moon-ho's fifth hit of the game, Park Yong-taek's timely hit, and pinch hitter Lee Hong-gu's two RBI doubles widened the score gap to 15 to 1, breaking Yeoncheon Miracle's will to chase.
As the closing pitcher in the top of the 7th inning, 'Union Chairman' Song Seung-jun appeared on the mound for the first time in 84 days. Last season, Song Seung-jun was the last player to achieve a winning percentage of 70%. Even though it was his first appearance on the mound in a long time, he showed perfect pitching balance and finished the game with a clean three-way throw.
The game MVP went to Kim Moon-ho, who recorded 5 hits in 5 at-bats for the first time on the team, and Lee Dae-eun, who achieved 10 wins, another first. Kim Moon-ho said, “At some point, I felt pressure when I stepped into the batter’s box. I was very stressed and had a hard time and couldn't sleep. Before today’s game, I think the words of the captain and general manager, ‘Let’s give it a try without regrets’ and ‘Just have fun’ really touched my heart. “I will prepare well for the remaining game and do my best to continue today’s hitting,” he said.
Lee Dae-eun, who received the most MVP awards in the Strongest Monsters and was crowned a ‘9-star general,’ said, “I thought the sky was falling when they scored 1 point in the first inning. “I was very grateful that the team played well, and if I am selected as a starter in the remaining game, I will do my best to lead the team to victory.”
The strongest Monsters achieved their fifth cold win of the season and returned to a winning percentage of 70%. Now, the fate of ‘The Strongest Baseball’ and the Strongest Monsters will be decided in one remaining game. The final opponent of this season is the college baseball all-star team, and the game will be played in front of 20,000 spectators.
It is the beginning of a final struggle where everything is at stake, and what kind of ending will the strongest monsters face in a game that could be the last of baseball that they have devoted their whole lives to? Just like the catchphrase of 'strongest baseball', 'WIN OR NOTHING', it is a game where everything is at stake. Everyone's attention is focused on the winner.
Episode 72 of ‘Best Baseball’ will be broadcast at 10:30 pm on the 25th.
Taeyuna, Ten Asia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
