The first pitch, a fastball at the inner corner of the strike zone, hard against hard!
As a renowned power hitter, how could Lee Dae-ho choose to retreat? Facing the incoming ball, this South Korean powerhouse responded with a decisive swing of his bat.
Accompanied by a "thud" of collision, the baseball soared high into the sky, and then briskly flew toward the stands behind ho plate.
Foul ball, count 0 balls, 1 strike.
After Lee Dae-ho’s bat captured the first pitch, the Orix pitcher and catcher quickly shifted strategies; for the subsequent second pitch, they burned the battle to the outer corner of the strike zone.
Facing the baseball moving toward the left batter’s box, although Lee Dae-ho prepared his bat, there was no further action, letting the ball pass.
The umpire behind ho plate made no indication on this pitch.
Ball, count 1 ball, 1 strike.
The ensuing third pitch was identical to the first—a fastball at the inner corner—and Lee Dae-ho made the sa choice as before: another powerful swing, and once again sending the ball into the stands behind him.
As this ball turned into a foul, the advantage in this at-bat returned to the defensive Orix side: just one more strike away from holding off this inning, ready to face the bottom of the ninth with rising montum.
On the screen, Lee Dae-ho kept blinking while preparing to bat, clearly showing that even for an experienced player, the tension was palpable; anwhile, on the pitcher’s mound, Sato Tatsuya looked serious, continuously adjusting his breath, relaxing every muscle.
Monts later, the baseball was thrown! The pitch trajectory was again aid at the outer corner; but this ti, it’s a fastball!
In Lee Dae-ho’s eyes, the trajectory of the baseball enlarged, the white leather and spinning red stitches were frighteningly clear—during this fleeting mont, his body decided even faster than his mind.
In an instant, Lee Dae-ho’s front foot suddenly stepped toward first base, while his body core tightened instantaneously, using a textbook step for chasing outside pitches to et the ball with his bat.
"Thump!!!"
With the familiar vibrational sensation at the tiger’s mouth, Lee Dae-ho knew he seized the opportunity! Barely looking at the baseball’s trajectory, he threw away his bat and sprinted toward first base in almost the next second.
In the lens, the baseball didn’t soar skyward as usual, but under the effect of technique, carved a swift, low parabolic curve, just right as it flew over the top of the shortstop, piercing directly through the Orix middle infield defense.
From the mont Lee Dae-ho hit the baseball, Lin Guanglai at third base was already ignited: with continuous urging from the third base coach beside him, his long legs burst out with astounding power, every step heavily striking the dirt of Kyocera Do infield, stirring up tiny dust particles.
The baseball landed on the grass in central field and bounced a few tis before continuing to roll forward; the Orix central fielder sprinted desperately forward, but when he scooped up the ball and saw the field situation, the initial intent to continue was suddenly halted.
With a graceful, sliding maneuver, Lin Guanglai returned for such a decisive, potentially season-altering key lead run for his team!
The SoftBank player dugout and fan formation exploded instantly, emotions suppressed for so long erupted like a volcano—if the ga hadn’t ended yet, they might have rushed out now, rolling and celebrating wildly on the field.
Back at ho plate, Lin Guanglai lifted his head toward the direction of the outfield, the numbers bouncing on the electronic scoreboard filled his heart with imnse joy.
Now, just one more half-inning to the championship!!!
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