September 28, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: A good day for Lyonell and Axel James
9/28 Cup of Coffee: Only the Dominican Summer League played yesterday. The Red team blew away their opposition while the Blue team dropped a close one. Both squads got their fair share of offense out of the James brothers.
-----
Starting pitcher Jean Carlos Reyes surrendered three runs over three innings but the Blue team offense kept things close with Lyonell James driving in two runs in the top of the third inning with a single, and Armando Sierra knocking in James later on in the in the top of the fifth on a fielder's choice to tie the game. Faysel Gregorio pitched a pair of scoreless innings in relief but with the game tied in the sixth inning, Railin Perez allowed a solo home run that decided the seven inning game.
-----
The Red Team trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the third inning when the offense exploded for five runs capped off by a Karim Ayubi two-run double. They piled on a whopping nine more runs an inning later with highlights including an Axel James three-run homer, another RBI Ayubi double, and Frank Astacio driving in a pair on his second triple of the season. Anddy Flores earned his first win of the season with a pair of scoreless innings in relief.
-----
Player of the Day: Despite a slow start to the season, Axel James has had a red-hot September. The elder of the James brothers has slashed .281/.467/.625 over 45 plate appearances this month with three home runs and 14 RBI. He's also drawn 11 walks. James was signed as an International free agent back in July 2018 for $60,000 and was one of the top performers for the 2019 DSL Red Sox.