The Fire Fighters continue their undefeated streak with a thrilling comeback victory against Daegu High.
In episode 14 of the baseball entertainment program 'Fire Baseball', released on the official Studio C1 YouTube channel on the 4th, the Fire Fighters overcame a looming shadow of defeat in the 9th inning to defeat Daegu High 5-4.
The early part of the game unfolded as a pitchers' duel. Starting pitcher Yoo Hee-kwan showcased scoreless pitching until the 2nd inning, aided by solid defense and pick-off attempts. Daegu High's starting pitcher Na Hyun-seo faced a crisis in the 1st inning due to a hit and some unfortunate plays by the defense, but managed to limit the damage by getting Lee Dae-ho to ground out to second base.
In the top of the 3rd inning, with the Fire Fighters leading 1-0, Yoo Hee-kwan suddenly began to falter. He allowed a significant double to the leadoff batter of the opposing team, creating a crisis. His pitches started to stray from the strike zone, and he ultimately allowed a game-tying RBI hit to Kim Chang-beom of Daegu High.
In the top of the 5th inning, a bigger crisis hit the Fire Fighters. Yoo Hee-kwan's breaking balls began to be targeted by Daegu High's batters, leading to consecutive hits. After giving up the lead, the Fire Fighters found themselves trailing 1-3 due to more hits from Daegu High.
Eventually, Yoo Hee-kwan was pulled from the game, and another ace, Lee Dae-eun, took the mound to stabilize the situation. In response, Daegu High brought in their ace, Kim Min-jun, whose fastball reached speeds of up to 152 km/h, effectively shutting down the Fire Fighters' lineup and showcasing the impressive performances of both teams' relief pitchers that captivated the viewers.
The Fire Fighters, who were struggling against Kim Min-jun's pitches, seized an opportunity in the bottom of the 7th inning. Jung Sung-hoon faced Kim Min-jun with persistent cuts and earned a walk after a 10-pitch battle. Following him, Lee Taek-geun, Park Jae-wook, and Lim Sang-woo produced hits, allowing the Fire Fighters to tie the game at 3-3.
However, Daegu High did not back down easily. In the top of the 8th inning, taking advantage of the Fire Fighters' fatigue and errors, they launched a fierce attack. A Daegu High batter, looking for an opportunity, hit a go-ahead RBI single off Lee Dae-eun.
With their backs against the wall, the Fire Fighters attempted a counterattack in the bottom of the 8th inning. Jeong Ui-yun and Jung Sung-hoon hit singles to create a scoring opportunity, and manager Kim Sung-keun made a bold move by substituting Jeong Ui-yun at second base with pinch runner Kang Dong-woo. However, Lee Taek-geun struck out, and Park Jae-wook grounded out, squandering the chance.
In a situation overshadowed by the threat of defeat, a miracle occurred in the bottom of the 9th inning. An error by Daegu High allowed Jeong Geun-woo to reach base, followed by Moon Kyo-won also getting on base with a walk. Daegu High intentionally walked their cleanup hitter Lee Dae-ho, setting up a bases-loaded showdown with Kang Dong-woo, the hero of the opening game. With no hits resulting in an immediate loss, Kang Dong-woo found himself quickly down to two strikes but, after a relentless battle, delivered a game-winning hit that sent both the Fire Fighters and the viewers into a frenzy.
Episode 14 of Fire Baseball surpassed 100,000 concurrent viewers just 13 minutes after its premiere. The peak concurrent viewership reached 230,000, proving the show's immense popularity.
Next week's broadcast will feature the live scene from the match against Gangneung High, held on July 13 at Ulsan Munsoo Baseball Stadium. Gangneung High is said to pose a significant threat to the Fire Fighters with a stronger performance than before. It will be interesting to see which team emerges victorious in the pouring rain.
Meanwhile, after the broadcast, 'Fire Baseball' announced a live match against Seoul High School, the champions of the 2025 Shinsegae E-Mart National High School Baseball Tournament. This match will be the sixth live event since the team's inception and will take place on August 10 at 6 PM at Incheon Munhak Baseball Stadium. Tickets will be available for purchase on Yes24 starting August 6 at 2 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
