Cup of Coffee: Brooks Brannon drills grand slam in undefeated day in complex leagues

6/12 Cup of Coffee: With the full-season affiliates all off on Monday, it was just the complex league teams in action. They each had a successful day, as all three squads recorded a win, each of which moved to 4-2 on the season. They each did it in different ways, as the FCL scored eight in the seventh, led by a Brooks Brannon (pictured) grand slam and plenty of walks, while DSL Red had a walk-off win off the bat of  Yosander Asencio and DSL Blue withstood a comeback bid from the Rays.

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FCL Red Sox 11, FCL Rays 1

The FCL Red Sox took advantage of 10 walks on Monday and combined them with 10 base hits to secure a big victory over the Rays. Kelvin Diaz grabbed a pair of hits and has recorded a knock in each of his first five games this season and was joined in the multi-hit club by Brooks Brannon, including a grand slam, and Albertson Asigen. It was 3-1 after six innings, but Rays pitching fell apart in the seventh, resulting in eight Red Sox runs, with a litany of free bases, including a wild pitch and two errors.

Yordanny Monegro had another solid outing, as he scattered two hits and walks each, resulting in just one run over five innings of work. He also struck out six Rays. Royman Blanco and Garrett Ramsey each pitched a pair of shutout frames to finish the ballgame, combining to surrender just four baserunners.

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DSL Red Sox Blue 5, DSL Rays 3

Blue recorded just four hits on Monday, but that was enough to take the victory and withstand a comeback bid from the Rays, as they scored a pair in the bottom of the ninth and had the tying run at the plate. The game-winning RBI went to Yoiber Ruiz, who worked a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

Yeferson Vargas and Ali Ascanio each didn't allow a run in their outings. Vargas handled the first three innings, though he had traffic with three hits and a walk to go along with four strikeouts. Ascanio got the final out of the fifth and took over the sixth and seventh, with a pair of hits and walks each.

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DSL Red Sox Red 6, DSL Tigers 5

Yosander Asencio walked it off for Red, knocking a double to center field that scored Franyer Noria. Red had been up 5-3 after six innings, but a two-run seventh for the Tigers forced the dramatics. The top of the lineup produced, as the two through four hitters Jancel Santana, Yohander Linarez, and Andruw Musett each had a multi-hit day, combining for four RBI. Jean Carlos Reyes finished the game with two shutout innings, surrendering just a walk and a hit.

 

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Player of the Day: Everyone loves a grand slam. When Brooks Brannon stepped to the plate in the seventh with the bases loaded, it was 5-1 Red Sox and once he deposited the 1-1 pitch over the fence in left, there was no doubt which team was going to win. The backstop is in his first full professional season after being selected in the ninth round in 2022 out of high school in North Carolina. He has been splitting catching duties so far but has hit well, with two home runs in just three games. It's unclear whether he can stick behind the plate long-term, but his power is something to watch as he climbs the minor league ladder.

Photo Credit: Brooks Brannon by Kelly O'Connor

 

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