Cup of Coffee: Rookie teams go 3-0, Bleis notches three htis

8/9 Cup of Coffee: It was an undefeated Monday for the system, as the DSL teams and the FCL squad each took home wins while the full-season affiliates had their weekly off day. DSL Blue and Red combined for just eight base knocks over 14 innings, but were able to do just enough to squeak out with a win in a pair of pitcher's duels, with William Colmenares contributing the most impressive outing, as he threw five on-hit frames. In Florida, Miguel Bleis (pictured) was 3 for 5, leading the way to victory for the FCL Red Sox, which held off a late comeback from the Braves.

-----

FCL Red Sox 9, FCL Braves 4

Miguel Bleis led the way with a 3-for-5 performance with a pair of doubles, driving in two runs as part of a 13-hit attack by the Red Sox. Aside from Bleis, Chase Meidroth, Enderso Lira and a rehabbing Tyler Esplin also recorded multi-hit efforts, while Albert Feliz notched his first home run on the season in the seventh. Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz only completed two innings of work and only surrendered an unearned run, but had plenty of traffic, with three hits and two walks. In earning the win, Jhonny Felix handled the bulk relief, permitting just one runner to cross the plate over four innings, striking out three against a trio of hits and two free passes. 

-----

DSL Red Sox Blue 3, DSL Astros Blue 2

Despite two runs from the Astros in the bottom of the ninth, Blue was able to hold off their hosts and move to 35-11 on the season. The team recorded just five hits, with the three runs coming via small ball, including on a stolen base with runners on first and third, a wild pitch and a fielder's choice. Marvin Alcantara contributed Blue's only extra-base hit, notching a double. William Colmenares was impressive on the mound, striking out five hitters over five one-hit innings. He was followed by Ruben De La Cruz and Carlos Mendoza, who surrendered a hit each over two and one frames, respectively. 

-----

DSL Red Sox Red 4, DSL Cleveland Red 2 (5 Innings)

In a contest cut short, the Red Sox were able to hold the lead after Cleveland scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth. Like their Blue counterparts, Red was largely kept in check on offense, with just three hits and one double, this one from Natanael Yuten, but his extra-base knock drove in three of his team's four runs to open the scoring in the second. Smil Guzman contributed four shutout frames in his start, scattering three hits and a pair of walks. 

-----

Player of the Day: Fresh off a player of the week performance, Miguel Bleis kept it going on Monday. One of the more exciting prospects in the system, the 18-year-old is now on a modest five-game hitting streak, which includes back-to-back three-hit games. Of his 12 hits over the past five games, eight have been for extra bases, showing off impressive power and speed. He is now hitting .299/.350/.544 in 160 plate appearances for the FCL team this year, adding 17 stolen bases.

Photo Credit: Miguel Bleis by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet