Cup of Coffee: Sierra, Pierre lead FCL Sox 13-run barrage

7/14 Cup of Coffee: With the full-season teams still on their All-Star break respites, all eyes were again on the rookie leagues. The FCL Sox delivered a 13-run, 14-hit onslaught in a dominating effort led by Armando Sierra (pictured). Down in the Dominican Republic, Team Blue fell despite the continued mashing of Yoeilin Cespedes, while the Red squad saw its contest postponed due to rain.

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FCL Red Sox 13, FCL Braves 1

The FCL Sox outhit the Braves 14 to five in a rout of the Braves. Armando Sierra led the charge at the plate with a single, double, and two-run homer, driving in three runs. Angel Pierre legged out a pair of doubles as part of his three-hit afternoon, while Johnfrank Salazar added his 10th two-bagger in just 21 games. Marvin Alcantara was a catalyst out of the leadoff spot, going 2 for 4 with a walk, double, and three RBI. Natanael Yuten followed in the order, going 2 for 5 with four RBI. 

The outburst at the plate made things easy on the quintet of Sox hurlers. Starter Elvis Soto allowed a run on three hits in four innings, striking out four and walking one. Connor Butler, a 20th-round pick a year ago, earned his first professional win, striking out five in two hitless innings of relief. Royman Blanco, Michael Valera, and Francis Hernandez threw a scoreless inning apiece to seal the win. 

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DSL Giants Orange 7, DSL Red Sox Blue 5

Yoeilin Cespedes waited little time to extend his hitting streak to six games with a double in the first inning. Cespedes now has eight doubles and 14 extra-base hits in 26 contests. Yoiber Ruiz had a strong day at the plate, going 2 for 3 with a walk, run scored, and RBI. It was a rough start for Nicolas De La Cruz, as he walked three and allowed a pair of hits while retiring just one batter. Alisson Del Orbe continued to shine out of Team Blue's bullpen. The converted infielder struck out five without issuing a walk in three scoreless innings, surrendering just a pair of singles. He's allowed just one earned run in 17 2/3, striking out 28 on the year. 

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DSL Red Sox Red @ DSL Brewers2, postponed

Team Red was unable to play on Thursday due to rain. A makeup game will be played as part of a doubleheader on August 1.

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Player of the Day: Armando Sierra led the FCL Sox attack on Thursday, falling just a triple short of the cycle. He was a standout in the Dominican Summer League in 2022 but got off to a slow 2-for-14 start in his first week stateside. He seems to have righted the ship, going 7 for 25 (.280) with four doubles, five walks, and only four strikeouts in his last eight games. 

Photo Credit: Armando Sierra by Kelly O'Connor

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