We Got Wood - 43.33 - Kelly Tosses a Gem after Rough Debut

[7teen]

In case you haven't caught on by now, Portland is high on its trio of rookies making their BBA debuts in 2043. We've already talked about Franco's Debut where the team lost despite his solid effort. And we've mentioned Normore Getting His First Hit on opening day and being the tying run on Paco Diaz's walk-off homerun. Well the third installment of that rookie trio is Terrence Kelly who made news this week.

Kelly has been the slightly less heralded prospect in the Portland farm system. Known mostly for solid movement and being acquired from Edmonton in a trade, Kelly has been shuffled to the back burner after recent drafts have landed Portland some bigger names. However, the front office had always taken notice thanks in large part to back to back 4.0+ WAR seasons in the minor leagues. In fact his successes forced the front office to make a decision that was unpopular at the time and that was to delay Kelly's debut until the team was a little more prepared to compete. And that was 2043.

Kelly made his debut last saturday night against the Vancouver Mounties. Not your prototypical debut, having to make your big league journey against the team's biggest in-division rival. Especially with a brewing financial crisis that's been going on in Vancouver that Portland has been getting some blame for on some lower rung social media accounts. Nonetheless, nerves definitely got the better of Kelly on that night. Kelly walked a couple of batters and gave up 5 hits in 3.2 innings of work that led to 5 runs. He was hurt by a pair of Robert Menzies errors and was pulled from the game in the 4th. Kelly's offense did him very few favors, failing to score a single run all night as the Lumberjacks fell in defeat, 6-0. After the game, Kelly admitted to being "more than a little nervous" on the mound and just couldn't shake it. Menzies commented on "letting his pitcher down and felt bad for Kelly afterwards." All the more reason for Menzies to pick up Kelly a few days later.

Kelly made his second start a few days later, on Thursday in Sacramento. Less of a rival, but the defending Pacific champs no less, couldn't help ease the rookies nerves could it? When Edgardo Encarnacion got a one out double in the bottom of the first and later scored, it appeared as though the rookie was going to have another rough night. But Kelly settled down. Over the next 8 innings, Kelly only allowed a few more hits. Six in all on the night. Sure, he only struck out 1 batter and walked 3, but after 8 innings in the game, he had held the Mad Popes to just the lone run. The problem was, his team still trailed 1-0. Kelly's offense had yet to score a run with him on the mound. That changed in the 9th.

After Miguel Cortez led off the 9th with a strikeout, Menzies bailed out his team mate this time. Menzies singled on a full count to get the rally started. Engeitado then singled. Mendoza followed that up with another single. Hell bent on tying the game, Menzies sprinted around third and scored. The game was tied at 1-1. Kelly was off the hook for the loss. Still with his right arm inside his pitching jacket, Kelly showed the focus of someone who wanted to finish what he started. Of course the game was tied and going back out for the 9th wouldn't guarantee him anything but a loss if Sacramento scored. Matt Normore then struck out putting 2 outs on the board. Manuel Martinez strode to the plate. He fell behind quickly 0-2 before taking a ball. After back to back foul balls were followed by consecutive balls, Martinez was faced with a full count. On the full count pitch, both Engeitado and Mendoza were off and running. Martinez promptly lined the full-count pitch off the center field wall, plating two runs and giving not only Portland the lead 3-1, but setting up Kelly for his first big league win.

Pedro Medina sent Kelly back out for the 9th. Kelly struck out Encarnacion (the only man to score off him for the night) to lead off the inning. When Jose Cortes hit a one-out single off Kelly, Medina had seen enough. Sitting at his pitch limit of 95 for the evening, Medina made the slow walk to the mound. Menzies beat Medina to the mound and patted Kelly on the back. It was obvious Kelly was done for the night. He smiled as he handed the ball to Medina and walked off the field. The crowd of just over 52,000 in Sacramento gave the rookie and slight applause. They appreciated the rookie's effort, even if it was against their home team. They just hoped it wouldn't end with him getting the win. They'd be disappointed.

Kelly put the jacket back on in the dugout, this time over both arms, and stood on the railing at South Pacific Field. He'd now be a nervous spectator, waiting to see if Flynn Bernard could lock down his first save of the season. Tensions rose when the first batter Bernard face, Rafael Mota, laced a ball to deep centerfield. Advanced stats measured the liner left Mota's bat with an exit velocity of 101.3. But this is when having a diamond glove in CF comes in handy as the ball was raced down by Miguel Cortez for the second out of the inning. The final out was less dramatic. Aries Gonzalez struck out on 5 pitches and Terrence Kelly had his first win!

"Its a special moment for sure" said Kelly on the field after the game. Several dozen Portland fans gathered in the stands behind the Lumberjacks dugout to witness the historical moment for the rookie. "I'm not sure if I was more nervous on the mound or in the dugout watching Flynny close it. And man, what a catch by Cortez out there in CF. This team! I love these guys."

When asked what Menzies said to him when he came out of the game, Kelly laughed "he said, We Got This, Rook! Just our little joke since I'm older yet I'm the rookie!"