9-News: 39.062 – Nine Eek Victory: Valle, Smith, Duel

[RonCo]

Late Homer Spoils Smiths Utopia Debut

Fans at Utopia Field were buzzing with anticipation as young Kernel Don Smith was announced to take the hill against YS9 ace Carlos Valle, and for good reason. Valle was a win away from hitting the franchise leaderboard for victories, and Smith, well,, Smith is considered by some to be the second coming of Steve Nebraska himself—a legend even before his time. He was the Kernels’ #1 pick in the draft last year, and was already up and throwing bullets. The match could be the pitchers’ duels of all pitcher’s duels.

And it didn’t disappoint.

Smith threw 85 pitches in the tilt, not exactly blowing hitters away, but scattering only four hits and walking only one while pitching into the 8th inning. The Nine scratched a run out when Dong-po Thum singled through the infield, went to second on a HBP, and stole third to be in position to score on a ground ball. The Kernels tied it up two innings later when an error extended the inning and Valle left a breaking ball up in the zone long enough for Gerardo Guzman to lace a double down the first base line.

Valle left the game after that sixth inning, posting a line next to Smith’s that read six strikeouts and four hits to go with only a pair of walks and that unearned run.

“It was a great battle all night,” said voice of the Nine Melissa Lester.

Tristan Alfama followed Valle with two more scoreless innings, and the score was still 1-1 as Smith faced Alejandro Rodriguez to open the 8th. His fifth pitch of the at bat as a sinker that didn’t sink, and Alej-Rod deposited it 386 feet into the left field seats. Smith got one more out, and left to a round of applause from the crowd, who seemed to sense they were seeing the beginning of something special.

An inning later, closer Curt Phillips (who recently passed Ernie von Schledorn III for third on the franchise's saves list) put a head on it, and that was that, the Nine won 2-1.

INKSTER SUPPORTS HIS GUY

After the game, Nine manager Bill Inkster fielded lots of questions about facing Smith, finally taking a moment to mention that his guy, Valle, had a pretty good night, too.

“Carlos is at the heart of this team,” he said. “He hasn’t lost since I don’t know when, and if you’ll take a moment you might see that he’s pretty good.”

All that is true enough. Carlos Valle hasn’t lost a start since May 26th—a string of 14 straight outings. He’s taken home victories in eight of those 14, and the team has won four others, including last nights’ knuckle biter. He leads the league in quality starts, wins (with three others) and winning percentage, and sits third in rWAR and ERA. At 26 years old, he’s seeming to hit his stride.

“Carlos has turned into a pitcher,” Inkster said. “He knows what he’s trying to do every time he goes to the mound. He’s like a quarterback anymore, directing traffic on defense and almost coaching up our catchers on how to call a game. It was great fun watching the kid go out there tonight, but Carlos’s team won the game.”

Valle himself played down any controversy. “Smith looked good out there tonight,” he said. “It could have gone either way, but Alejandro got his mistake and took care of business. I’m happy we won.”