Baseball: A Two-Way Player-Chapter 657 - 14: Narrow Paths for Enemies (Part 2)

-----------------

On April 2, 2017, Baltimore, Maryland, Oriole Park.

"Ah, Manny, finally seeing you live!"

"Manny, can you sign for me!"

Manny Machado, having finished pregame training, walked to the sidelines, took a baseball from the excited Orioles fans, signed his name, and handed it back, not forgetting to flash his charming smile and wave at the home fans.

His actions once again ignited the enthusiasm of the home fans in the stands—this is Manny Machado, serving the Baltimore Orioles, a powerful, young talent with clear likes and dislikes. Even though his fiery temper has sparked considerable controversy, he is undoubtedly the darling of the home fans at Oriole Park.

"Manny, you'll teach that Asian kid a lesson, right?" came the inquiries from Orioles fans in the stands, to which Manny Machado simply responded with an OK gesture, as if to say—

"Of Course."

For the home opener of the new season, Baltimore Orioles fans filled the more than 45,000 seats in the stadium. Clad in home team jerseys, the throngs gathered together, forming a roaring orange wave; and when the Yankees players entered, the surrounding stands erupted with a tremendous force, as if to completely engulf the visiting team.

This is the treatment of the New York Yankees across the United States: 27 World Series titles have gained them the most fans, but simultaneously earned them the deepest dislike from supporters of other teams; considering the Orioles and Yankees have a long-standing rivalry within the same division, such a setup at Oriole Park is understandable—the home advantage and national animosity aren't just casual talk.

For today's opening game, the Baltimore Orioles sent out their rising young pitcher Kevin Gausman, whom the team has high expectations for, grooming him as a potential ace. Choosing him as the opening starter reflects the organization's emphasis.

Gausman's main pitch weapons are the four-seam fastball, fast forkball, and slider, with the usage ratio of the first two accounting for over 80%; the four-seam has a strong strikeout ability, reaching speeds up to 101 mph, especially advantageous during initial encounters.

In the top of the first inning, the Yankees' first three hitters had not fully warmed up yet, and in facing Gausman, they merely symbolically resisted for a while before being consecutively retired, ending the half inning with three up, three down.

After switching fields, Lin Guanglai strode up to the pitcher's mound at Oriole Park; simultaneously with his ascent, a huge wave of boos erupted at the scene.

These boos were partly aimed at New York Yankees players, since booing the Yankees is, in some sense, politically correct within the American East;

Another portion was specifically directed at Lin Guanglai by Orioles fans, because his pregame spat with Machado had already been widely publicized; the Orioles fans were backing up their young star in their own simple way!

Lin Guanglai paid no mind to these Orioles fans' actions: in his view, the bigger the reaction, the more they care about him; the more they care, actually means the more they fear him, needing this show of bravado to cheer themselves on.

Focusing his gaze on the batter's box, Lin Guanglai had set his sights on the Orioles' lead-off hitter today, Seth Smith.

As a lead-off hitter type, Smith's batting capabilities might not be particularly impressive, but his stable performance of hitting over 90 hits and over 10 home runs annually ensures him a starting position in the relatively average Orioles team.

Even though this is the Major League, where batters are far superior to those in Japan, Lin Guanglai felt no intimidation, instead resolutely executing his strategy of aggressively oppressing the batter, taking control of the confrontation from the start.

Forcing with high-pressure inside pitches to command the count while expanding pitching space, sending the ball to the edge of the strike zone to test the umpire's strike zone scope, decisively striking to defeat after gaining the advantage—when Lin Guanglai's signature ghostly forkball sliced through the air again, his first Major League career strikeout was achieved.

"Strikeout!" The Japanese broadcasters covering the game erupted in cheers, "This is it, this is what we've been wanting to see, the familiar champion we know—are the American batters ready for a new challenge?"

"This is the first strikeout in the MLB for this superstar from Asia." Commentators from American broadcasters, including ESPN and Fox, also praised Lin Guanglai's adept performance, "Take a look at his ball velocity, take a look at his spin rate, and take a look at the disgusting speed and trajectory of that forkball...at least the Top 100 Prospect rating was accurate, Lin's pitching is at top-level even in the Major League!"

After showcasing impressive competitive form in the opening phase, Lin Guanglai pressed on and rendered the Orioles' second batter, Craig Gentry, ineffective. Although Gentry appeared prepared for the forkball that struck out Smith, upon swinging, he realized it wasn't a forkball at all, but a fork shooter's cutter ball that almost completely overlapped in release, arm motion, and early trajectory.

Consecutively clinching two strikeouts atop the Orioles' batting order, Lin Guanglai's performance dampened the spirits of the home fans and quieted the cheering a bit at Oriole Park; but soon, the overwhelming noise resurged, along with the appearance of a tall, young Latin face.

"Manny—Manny—Manny—!!!" Many Baltimore Orioles home fans stood up from their seats, extending their hands towards home plate while loudly chanting the same name. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Having consecutively hit over 35 home runs for two seasons, plus winning two Gold Gloves and a Defensive Bible award, Manny Machado had already become a top figure in Baltimore—facing such an opponent, Lin Guanglai's expression naturally became more serious.

Similarly, as a current MLB star, Machado might have shown an arrogant posture before the game, but during the actual match, he was equally serious and focused.

First pitch, even facing one of the Major League's best third basemen, Lin Guanglai still showed no fear, attempting to pressure Machado's swing and hitting angle with the first pitch, stuffing the ball into Machado's inside corner.

"Bang!" A loud echo followed as Machado delivered a strong response: the baseball forcibly carried out from the inside corner, then flew onto the third-base-side stands.

Oriole Park instantly buzzed with disappointment-filled cries that quickly transformed into encouraging applause echoing throughout the stadium.

Receiving the ball from Gary Sanchez, Lin Guanglai made only slight adjustments, quickly sending the ball towards home plate again, targeting Machado's inside high zone.

"Hmph, thinking that copying routines for regular batters can solve me? It's a bit too arrogant!" Feeling underestimated, Machado still swung aggressively at the incoming ball, aiming to make up for the previous missed opportunity and deliver a perfect opening performance for the home fans;

However, just as he confidently believed he would hit the baseball, he realized the velocity differed from his expectation—this was a changeup!

The sudden speed change disrupted Machado's swing rhythm and shattered his previously assured hitting posture—by the time the ball was caught by Sanchez behind home plate, Machado's entire body had already fallen apart, and his bat lay on the ground.

Understanding the momentum of a follow-up attack, Lin Guanglai and Sanchez, the Yankees' starting pitcher-catcher duo, gave Manny Machado no chance to recover, quickly signaled for the third pitch—the consensus being, even if anticipated, during the first encounter with Lin Guanglai's "forkball + fork shooter's cutter ball" combination, even the strongest hitters have a hard time.

"Strikeout! Batter out of play!" Without any suspense, the umpire declared Manny Machado's strikeout exit.

For Lin Guanglai, his Major League career's first half-inning featured 9 pitches and 3 strikeouts, an impeccable opening.

The atmosphere at Oriole Park suddenly quieted.