June 6, 2023 at 7:00 AM
Cup of Coffee: Yoiber Ruiz walks five times in complex league Opening Day
6/5 Cup of Coffee: It was Opening Day in June on Monday, as the Dominican Summer League and both Arizona and Florida complex leagues began play on Monday. It was a 2-1 day for the three complex teams in the Boston system, as the FCL Red Sox and DSL Red Sox Blue each grabbed a win, while DSL Red Sox Red mustered just four hits in a shutout loss. Albertson Asigen had three hits in his stateside debut, while Yoiber Ruiz worked five walks out of the leadoff spot for Blue.
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Seven hitters combined to register 11 hits as the FCL Red Sox got the season off on the right foot, with an impressive start over the FCL Orioles. Albertson Asigen, who made his debut in the United States after two years in the DSL, impressed with three hits, including an RBI double in the fourth. Armando Sierra and Natanael Yuten each had a two-hit performance, while Brooks Brannon hit the team's first home run of the year.
The pitching was also strong, Yordanny Monegro earned the start and threw five no-hit innings, with eight strikeouts. Between the second and fourth, he punched out five straight Orioles. Francis Hernandez followed and scattered a hit and walk over a pair of innings, while Garrett Ramsey failed to hold the shutout, giving up two runs in the eighth. He permitted a pair of hits and issued two strikeouts.
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Yoiber Ruiz walked it off for the Red Sox in their opener, as he scored on a passed ball to end the game. He reached in the 10th with a single and got on base an impressive six times, five of which were via the walk, and scored two runs in his professional debut. Overall, Blue was able to secure 14 free passes, which overshadowed their nine hits. Starlyn Nunez and Kleyver Salazar each had multi-hit performances.
Alisson Del Orbe was the only Blue arm to have a shutout outing, doing so over 2 1/3 innings. Cesar Ruiz coughed up just one run over two innings of work, as well.
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It was a tough way to open the season for Red, as they only mustered four hits. Two of them came off the bat of Yohander Linarez, though Jose Liriano notched a double. The pitching staff exhibited control, issuing just two walks, but five of the Mets' eight hits went for extra bases. Denison Sanchez closed out the game with two shutout innings of relief, while Gilberto Batista struck out five in his four-inning start, but gave up three runs on four hits.
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Player of the Day: Even though many DSL pitchers have control issues, five walks is pretty impressive patience, particularly in a professional debut. Yoiber Ruiz did so on Monday, while also registering a single in extra innings which proved to be the game-winning run. A slight 5-foot-7, 170 pounds, Ruiz might have to move off shortstop, but has solid bat speed and got his professional career off to an auspicious start on Monday.
Photo Credit: Albertson Asigen by Kelly O'Connor