July 27, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Jordan doubles three times, homers to lead FCL Sox sweep
7/27 Cup of Coffee: Blaze Jordan, the third pick in last June's draft, is mirroring the debut of his draftmate Nick Yorke. After a sputtering start to his professional career, Jordan has been lighting up the box scores. He led his FCL team to a sweep on Monday afternoon. Both DSL teams prevailed as well, with Lyonell James leading the way for the DSL Blue and the Red team riding the arm of Francis Hernandez.
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Things got started on the completion of the second game of the season in the top of the fifth inning. Blaze Jordan got things going in the bottom of that frame with an RBI double to score Brainer Bonaci. Jordan had two of the three Red Sox hits in the contest. Luis De Le Rosa threw three shutout frames back in June, followed by Blake Loubier firing a scoreless fourth. Jose Larez took over when it resumed and he got credit for the win, allowing two runs (one earned) in three innings, striking out five without issuing a walk.
It was the Blaze Jordan show in the regularly scheduled matinee. The 2020 third-round draft pick was 3 for 3 with a long home run, two doubles, a walk, three RBI, and two runs scored. Eddinson Paulino was not to be overshadowed, scoring three times, hitting a triple, and doubling twice as part of a 3-for-4 day of his own. Bryan Gonzalez also added a triple. Wilkelman Gonzalez got the win, allowing one run on five hits in five innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. Over his past three starts, Gonzalez has struck out 22 without walking a batter. Cole Milam allowed one hit in two scoreless innings to get the save.
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Team Blue had 17 baserunners on its way to an 8-3 record. Lyonell James led the offense, going 2 for 3 with a double, two walks, and three RBI. Armando Sierra also doubled as part of a 2-for-4 effort. Starting pitcher Jedixson Paez allowed one run on three innings. Barbaro Pinero got the win, striking out four and allowing just one hit across three scoreless innings.
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Three-run innings in the fourth and fifth gave the Red squad the win in a game shortened by rain. Helison Mota was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and two driven in. Francis Hernandez finally surrendered a run in his third appearance of the year, but he turned in a solid outing. He gave the one run on four hits in three innings, striking out five and walking one.
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Player of the Day: Let's get the obligatory pun out of the way -- Blaze Jordan is on fire. During his seven-game hitting streak, Jordan is 12 for 29 (.414) with five doubles, three homers, and a triple. That gives him 28 total bases in that stretch, good for a .966 slugging percentage. That mark doesn't include the double he hit in the opener, which will serve to inflate his June stat line. Jordan's line is up to .322/.359/.610 on the year.