Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 615 - 155: Superstar Moment (Part 2)

Even though the manager had already issued instructions for sticking to the bat and tangling, the premise for doing so was to be able to touch the ball first; as professional players, this task shouldn't be too difficult, or so it was thought. However, under Lin Guanglai's choice to proactively increase speed and diversify pitch combinations, previous analyses and studies of the first at-bat lost their meaning, leaving the Fighters' batters bruised and battered as they retraced their steps.

Including the nine up, nine down at the beginning, in this spotlight match that could determine the league title for the year, Lin Guanglai had already sent an outstanding 12 up, 12 down performance.

As he successfully achieved a shutout against the Fighters lineup in the first four innings, a brand new historical record was born—Lin Guanglai's ERA officially dropped below 1, entering the godly realm of the 0-point zone!

What does this mean, you ask? Consider this: in the long history of Nippon Professional Baseball, only 11 pitchers have achieved this.

Apart from Muraoka Minoru of the 1970 Hanshin Tigers, the other ten were all active during the pioneering era of the 1930s and 1940s; even for Muraoka Minoru, it was a period with significant disparities in strength between teams within the Nippon Professional Baseball League.

After baseball gradually modernized, professionalized, and became more scientific in the 1980s, the lowest ERA record was Tanaka Masahiro's 1.272 in 2011—back then, this record was considered unbreakable for 20 years, yet who would have thought that a mere five years later, Lin Guanglai would push it to a point that future challengers would find insurmountable.

Certainly, this match isn't over yet, and no one can guarantee that Lin Guanglai can finish the game without conceding a point; however, even stepping into this sacred realm for a short time is enough to make him feel proud and accomplished.

Of course, Lin Guanglai, having struck out an opponent and back in the batter's box, wasn't focused on these statistics. Instead, he threw his pitcher's glove onto his seat and quickly donned his batting gear and protectors—for the next half-inning, he would be the second up at bat.

In the seating area, scouts from Major League teams sat upright with interest. They had been observing Lin Guanglai for a while, but Ohtani Shohai, another renowned figure in Japan, also piqued their interest—there's only one genius like Lin Guanglai; if acquiring him proves impossible, would considering the other promising talent be beneficial?

"Looking at the pitches from the previous innings, Ohtani's fastball today is frighteningly good; I wonder if Lin can hit a safe hit..." a scout from an American League team adjusted his glasses. "His pitching would be among the elite even in the United States, but he needs more batting samples as the Japanese hitter development system is still somewhat lacking..."

Lin Guanglai entered the left batter's box and adjusted his helmet. He lifted his gaze towards the pitcher's mound, only to find Ohtani's eyes firmly locked onto him as well, with an invisible spark in the air.

Ohtani Shohai's pitches were simple yet full of power, without any unnecessary movements: a high leg lift, body bending backward like a taut bow storing energy, then suddenly unleashing!

A white blur shot from his hand, arriving in front of home plate almost instantly with a screeching sound as if tearing through the air—it seemed like a cannonball. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"So fast!" Lin Guanglai's pupils contracted, his mind failing to issue a complete command before the baseball had already flown over home plate—a quick "Strike" judgment rang out from the umpire, stirring cheers and applause from the away team's player area and the stands.

Lin Guanglai glanced at Eagle's Vision above the batter's area: the ball speed measured at 165km/h, breaking Ohtani Shohai's career fastest pitch and tying Lin Guanglai's record, making it hard to react without preparation.

For the second pitch, Ohtani Shohai hesitated not a bit and delivered another fastball—this time, it was high on the inside, the baseball rushing fiercely towards the chest.

Facing the incoming ball, Lin Guanglai held back his bat, letting the baseball graze past his chest; this pitch was deemed a ball, bringing the count to 1 ball, 1 strike.

Clearly, this was Ohtani Shohai's direct challenge to Lin Guanglai, attempting to assert dominion through such an aggressive approach: "The inner zone is my territory; dare to come and challenge me!"

For Ohtani Shohai, whose control skills are above average in the Nihon Professional Baseball, speeding fastballs are his go-to on the mound, constituting over 40% of his pitch arsenal. Yet, he is by no means a pitcher reliant solely on fastballs, evidenced by the next third pitch.

His pitch delivery remained smooth and explosive, with initial speed appearing extremely fast, trajectory aimed straight at the strike zone's center—by all appearances, it should be a fastball, even Lin Guanglai thought so.

However, when nearing home plate, Lin Guanglai's sharp eyes caught a noticeable difference in the spin compared to regular fastballs:

It was a fast forkball!

At such a critical moment, despite Lin Guanglai's astounding core strength and bat control, it couldn't alter the already initiated complete swing—the baseball narrowly missed the swung bat, landing in the catcher's glove behind the strike zone.

The umpire pulled the bow again, ball count standing at 1 ball, 2 strikes. Ohtani Shohai's high-quality fast forkball, matched with his terrifying fastball as cover, indeed formed a punch combination hard to counter.

Despite being disadvantaged in the count, Lin Guanglai maintained considerable patience—or rather, he must be more patient—with just one more good pitch enough to strike him out, would Ohtani Shohai opt to settle the score immediately or further test his pitch selection eyes? Would the pitch be a fastball or a breaking ball?

Briefly stepping out of the batter's box, Lin Guanglai took this moment for some reflection, stabilizing his breath and heartbeat; the two combatants' eyes met once more, both seeing unyielding determination from the other—this was a match of wills, seeing who exposes a flaw first.

Staring at Ohtani Shohai's mountain-like sturdy physique on the pitcher's mound, a foreboding arose within Lin Guanglai—based on his understanding of Ohtani Shohai, in such circumstances, the opponent would certainly lean towards using his strongest weapon, relying on absolute force to defeat the adversary directly!

Thus, this ball's answer is—high inside!

As Ohtani Shohai activated, Lin Guanglai's body swiftly tensed, storing power akin to a spring, as the baseball flew from the pitcher's fingertips like a white lightning bolt towards home plate!

Upon release, Lin Guanglai's body instantly moved, as if he already foresaw the baseball's path; his body's center rapidly shifted forward, twisting his waist like a strong spring to channel full body strength into his arms.

The bat in his hand morphed from a dead wooden object into an extension of his arm; in his eyes, the approaching white ball seemed to decelerate gradually.

No retreat, no fear, just explosive swing speed at its peak!

"Crack——————————!"

A crisp, resonant sound as if piercing the soul echoed above Yahoo Dome!

The sound was so extraordinary that upon hearing it, all 40,000-plus attendees, including Ohtani Shohai on the mound, instinctively raised their heads to watch the struck ball.

The white ball soared towards the central field's deep zone as if to breach the dome. Dai-Kang Yang, who was defending the area, promptly turned to chase but soon slowed his pace.

The baseball traced a perfect arc in the air, soaring above the central fielder's head, over the high, wide home run wall of Yahoo Dome, ultimately slamming firmly against the enormous billboard bearing the sponsor's name in the deepest part of central field!

"Boom!!"

A deep, tremendous echo carried by the on-site microphone spread throughout every corner.

Lead-off home run!!!!!!!!!!