Cup of Coffee: Dominican rain washes out DSL; FCL Sox swept despite two home runs for Deundre Jones

8/8 Cup of Coffee: Complex Monday was quiet this week, as the Dominican Summer League teams played a combined four innings due to rain that soaked the island. However, the FCL Red Sox were making up a game against the Orioles and played a doubleheader, but lost both contests, headlined by four errors leading to three unearned runs in the opener of the twin bill, with three more errors and two unearned runs in the second half. It wasn't all bad, as Kristian Campbell and Nazzan Zanetello each got their first professional hits in that first game, while Deundre Jones did his best to lead his team to victory with two home runs.

-----

FCL Orioles 9, FCL Red Sox 1 (7 Innings)

The regularly scheduled contest, which occurred first, was all Orioles from the jump. They got two runs off of Eybersson Polanco, who had his string of solid outings snapped, and were up 6-0 by the middle of the fourth. Polanco lasted 2 2/3 innings with two runs on his tab, though only one was earned. He surrendered three hits and walked two more against two strikeouts. The bulk of the runs came in on Cesar Ruiz, though two came in unearned in the Orioles' four-run fourth.

Kyle Teel was held hitless in his third professional game, but reports Monday afternoon indicate that he is jumping Salem and headed to High-A Greenville. Kristian Campbell got a double in his first professional at-bat and scored before being lifted. Just two other teammates, fellow draftee Nazzan Zanetello, who also got his first professional knock, and Bryant Zayas, had singles.

FCL Orioles 4, FCL Red Sox 3 (7 Innings)

The second half of the doubleheader was arguably more painful, as the Red Sox led 3-2 heading into the seventh inning but a double followed by an error walked it off for the Orioles. The bats weren't terribly active in the second game, as Deundre Jones had 40 percent of his team's hits and delivered all of the offense with a pair of deep flies. The home runs were the first of his professional career.

Despite the anemic offense, the pitching fared better in the second contest. Francis Hernandez contributed four shutout innings as the starter, with just four hits allowed. However, Garrett Ramsey had two unearned runs scored on him, as well as two earned ones, over 2 1/3 innings of work.

-----

DSL Red Sox Blue vs. DSL Pirates Gold (Suspended, rain)

Blue was playing the stronger Pirates roster, as the Red squad was facing off against Black, which has a weaker record. Despite that, their contest didn't get too far, as it was suspended in the top of the fourth due to rain. The Red Sox had a runner on second with two outs and Yoiber Ruiz will be at the plate when the game resumes. The Pirates scored their run in the third on a single, while the Red Sox had not yet gotten a hit.

-----

DSL Pirates Black vs. DSL Red Sox Blue (Suspended, rain)

Red and Black didn't make it nearly as deep as their counterparts, not even completing an inning before the game was called off due to the weather. The Red Sox already had a run in and had the bases loaded with two outs and Franyer Noria was coming to the plate.

-----

Player of the Day: Mr. Jones and me, look into the future. Yeah, we stare out as the ball flies over the fence. It was a big afternoon for Deundre Jones, as he did enough to unseat Eybersson Polanco as the Complex Monday player of the week. Jones hit his first two professional home runs after not playing in 2022 as a 17th-round selection out of high school in Texas. The one-time Kansas State commit has a simple swing that should help him succeed as a professional, though the 2-for-3 day at the plate brought his batting average up above .200 in 54 at-bats this year.

Photo Credit: Deundre Jones by Kelly O'Connor

Tweet