Cup of Coffee: Cespedes triples, homers for Salem; Bleis stays hot

6/7 Cup of Coffee: A pair of top-20 prospects were the standouts on Friday as the organization had a full slate of games on the schedule. Miguel Bleis continued his excellent stretch, blasting another home run to power a Greenville victory. Salem dropped its contest despite an outstanding night from Yoeilin Cespedes (pictured). Worcester had the system's only win, with a strong Tyler Uberstine effort that got significant offensive support. Portland was, yet again, interrupted by rain. The Sea Dogs saw their contest suspended in the third inning. It was a tough afternoon in the complexes, as the three Rookie Ball teams were swept while being outscored 33-7.

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Worcester Red Sox 6, Rochester Red Wings (WAS) 3

While a certain top prospect had a scheduled day off, Worcester ripped 12 hits, with seven going for extra bases. Ryan Noda blasted a pair of solo home runs, adding a walk. Nick Sogard led off the WooSox side of the game with his first homer of the season. Jhostynxon Garcia doubled as part of a three-hit effort, while Blaze Jordan had his fifth straight game (across two levels) with a two-bagger. 

On the mound, Tyler Uberstine continued his resurgence. The right-hander celebrated his 31-spot jump in the SoxProspects.com rankings with 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out seven against one walk. Brendan Cellucci struck out four and allowed one run in 1 2/3 innings of relief, followed by a scoreless 2/3 by Austin Adams. Alex Hoppe finished things off with a scoreless ninth to notch his third save of the year and second since his promotion from Portland. 

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Portland Sea Dogs vs. Hartford Yard Goats (COL), suspended (3rd inning)

The rain came through in the third, which will give Portland a much-needed reset. The Sea Dogs were down 5-0 at the suspension, as Hayden Mullins surrendered five runs (four earned) in 2 1/3 innings. They'll try to finish on Saturday before playing seven innings in the regularly scheduled contest. 

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Greenville Drive 5, Rome Emperors (ATL) 4

Miguel Bleis followed up Thursday's two-homer effort with another big night for the Drive. The center fielder was 2 for 4 with a double and a two-run homer, scoring two runs and driving in three. It was his sixth multi-hit game in his last 11 contests and his sixth homer during that stretch. Antonio Anderson and Albert Feliz had two hits apiece, with Anderson scoring a pair of runs. Franklin Arias was 0 for 4, snapping his hitting streak at 14 games. John Holobetz turned in a quality start for Greenville, pitching around 10 hits to get through six innings with just two runs allowed. Holobetz took advantage of Rome's aggressiveness, needing only 80 pitches to get through 26 batters. He struck out seven and walked one. Rome reached Danny Kirwin two runs in two innings before Isaac Stebens shut the door with a scoreless ninth to earn the save. 

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Lynchburg Hillcats (CLE) 8, Salem Red Sox 5

Yoeilin Cespedes turned in the hard half of the cycle in Salem's loss. Cespedes tripled and scored in the fourth, then blasted a three-run homer in the sixth that cut Lynchburg's advantage to one. Andruw Musset and Yohander Linarez had two hits apiece for Salem, while Yosander Asencio delivered a solo homer. Devin Futrell served as opener, allowing three runs in his two scoreless innings. Joey Gartrell made his Salem debut, giving up three runs in his inning of work. Gartrell was a 15th-round pick in last July's draft who had missed the end of 2024 and the start of 2025 after Tommy John surgery. Shea Sprague gave up five runs in 4 1/3 in the bulk role, and Eybersson Polanco went a scoreless 1 2/3. 

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FCL Twins 14, FCL Red Sox 4

This contest was closer than the score indicated, as the FCL Sox led through six innings, but a seven-run seventh for the Twins blew it wide open. A rehabbing Calvin Bickerstaff got the start, as he allowed three runs (two earned) in 2 2/3 innings, walking three without recording a strikeout. Yhoiker Fajardo was the standout out of the bullpen, striking out three in 3 1/3 perfect frames. Fajardo, acquired from the White Sox in a deal for reliever Cam Booser, has surrendered just one earned run in 16 1/3 innings across five appearances. Gerardo Rodriguez recorded a double for the only extra-base hit of the day. Alexander Mambel drove in two runs as he went 1 for 4.

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DSL Arizona Black 7, DSL Red Sox Red 0

Team Red could not generate a rally in Friday's loss. Leadoff hitter Dorian Soto singled to lead off the home side of the contest, and he has now hit safely in all four games. Alexander Alzi went 2 for 3 with a double. Isael Fis got the start but faced just four batters, giving up a run on one hit in 2/3 of an inning. Christopher Cordero had a solid outing in long relief, allowing two unearned runs on four hits in four innings, striking out four batters against two walks.

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DSL Astros Orange 12, DSL Red Sox Blue 3

Harold Rivas was the offensive standout in an otherwise difficult contest for the Blue squad. Leading off and appearing in a designated hitter role, Rivas was 2 for 3 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. He is 5 for 12 in the young season. Vladimir Asencio had the only other hit, a bases-loaded RBI single in the fourth. Starting pitcher Juanyerlin Duran took the loss, allowing four runs on four hits in two innings.

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Player of the Day: After something of a slow start, the solid recent play of Yoeilin Cespedes has flown a bit under the radar. A homer and triple on Friday give him back-to-back contests with multiple extra-base hits, and he's reached safely in 11 straight. Over his last 30 games, Cespedes has a strong .274/.348/.479 line. Signed in 2023 to a $1.4 million bonus, the largest the Red Sox gave out that winter, Cespedes is currently ranked 14th in the system.

Photo Credit: Yoelin Cespedes by Kelly O'Connor

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