September 14, 2021 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Mayer drives in a pair, De La Rosa stays hot
9/14 Cup of Coffee: Despite most affiliate teams having the day off, there were five games today. Such is life during this summer of rain. The FCL Red Sox played two. They got some excellent pitching in the first game from a trio of pitchers, while a certain 2021 top draft pick turned on the offense in game two. The DSL Red Sox Red team also swept a pair thanks to some solid offense, while the Blue team won their only game behind a Jean Carlos Reyes gem, completing the affiliate sweep.
-----
Its been an excellent run for Luis De La Rosa in the Florida Complex League. The 19-year-old righty started the game and pitched four shutout innings of three-hit ball, striking out six and walking one. The performance lowered his ERA to 3.04 over 26.2 innings. Maceo Campbell picked up the win as he worked a pair of no-hit innings and struck out three, and Nate Tellier closed things out, striking out a pair in his only inning of work, completing the shutout. On the offensive end, Yorberto Mejicano scored two runs, and had three hits as well as an RBI.
Kier Meredith led off, scored twice, and had a pair of hits in a short five inning game. Marcelo Mayer ripped a pair of hits including a double, walked, and drove in a run while Karson Simas tripled and drove in two. Bryan Lucas picked up his first win of the season with a pair of scoreless innings out of the pen, although Merfy Andrew had a rough go of things, coughing up three runs on four hits in his one inning of work.
-----
It wasn't pretty, but Frailyn Sanchez earned his third win of the season with three innings out of the pen. He gave up a pair of unearned runs on four hits, and walked one while striking out three. The offense was led by a trio of 17-year-olds Helison Mota, Elvys Castro, and Ahbram Liendo. Mota had a pair of hits and three RBI, while Castro had an RBI double and scored a run. Liendo had a pair of hits, as did 18-year-old Kelvin Diaz.
The Red team cruised to a game two win behind a 13-hit offensive outburst led by Albertson Asigen who had three hits including a triple in addition to three RBI. Karim Ayubi, Frank Astacio, Claudio Richetti, and Kevin Garcia all had a pair of hits as well. Starlin Santos was solid as the starting pitcher. He allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out four over four innings.
-----
Jean Carlos Reyes pitched five electric innings, shutting out the Rays on just two hits while striking out two. The 17-year-old righty lowered his ERA to 3.16 over 37 innings. Railin Perez picked up his eighth save of the season with a pair of shutout innings. Lyonell James carried the offense with a double, two of singles, and an RBI while Juan Chacon scored twice, and stole his tenth base of the season. Jhostynxon Garcia contributed an RBI single as well.
-----
Player of the Day: Yorberto Mejicano has done nothing but rake in his somewhat limited playing time in the Florida Complex league this year. The 20-year-old catcher has slashed .444/.463/.750 with two doubles, three home runs, and 11 RBI over 41 plate appearances. He was signed for a meager $5000 in January of 2019, hitting a respectable .274/.368/.315 in the Dominican Summer League that year.