Cup of Coffee: Nunez keys Salem victory; Brito stars in Dominican

7/26 Cup of Coffee: The FCL season came to a close on Thursday, but there was no lack of action down on the farm on Friday. Starlyn Nunez (pictured) had a three-hit night to lead Salem. Tyler Uberstine had a strong effort for Worcester, while a dominant bullpen bailed out an uncharacteristically short outing by Brandon Clarke in Greenville. A DSL sweep was highlighted by the ongoing heroics of Josue Brito and the first-place DSL Red Sox Blue. A walkoff loss handed Portland the system's only defeat of the day.

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Worcester got a tough test in rehabbing veteran Bailey Ober, but he was matched by Tyler Uberstine. The WooSox rightly allowed one run on eight hits in 5 2/3, striking out eight and walking one. He has fanned 54 in 51 1/3 innings since his promotion from Portland. Bryan Mata got credit for his third win of the year, firing 1 1/3 scoreless frames, allowing one hit and striking out two without issuing a walk. The Saints reached Jose Adames for a pair in the eighth, but Hobie Harris struck out the side in the ninth to pick up the save. Trayce Thompson got the scoring started with a solo homer in the fifth, going 1 for 2 with a pair of walks. Vaughn Grissom delivered the decisive blow, a three-run homer in the eighth. Kristian Campbell and Adam Eaton had a pair of hits apiece. 

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A solid effort by David Sandlin and the Portland 'pen was squandered by a 1-for-14 effort with runners in scoring position by the Sea Dogs' offense. Sandlin allowed a run on four hits across four innings, striking out four and walking one. He also effectively pounded the strike zone, throwing 47 of his 64 pitches for strikes. Jeremy Wu-Yelland went three innings of relief, allowing a run on one hit and striking out a pair without issuing a walk. Yovanny Cruz surrendered an unearned run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth as Richmond walked off with the win. At the plate, Brooks Brannon posted his first multi-hit game since a late-June promotion from Greenville, going 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Zach Ehrhard tripled, while Ahbram Liendo had a single, a walk, and a stolen base. 

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A short night for Brandon Clarke was picked up by an outstanding bullpen effort. Clarke threw 35 pitches in his only inning of work, allowing two runs on two hits, walking a pair. All three outs were recorded via strikeout. Manuel Medina came on to pitch four shutout innings, scattering three hits and striking out six without walking a batter. Adam Smith allowed just one hit in three scoreless frames to earn the win, striking out three. Jonathan Brand earned the save, striking out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect ninth. A 10-hit effort by the Drive offense was led by a resurgent Yophery Rodriguez. Rodriguez doubled and scored a run as part of a 2-for-5 evening, raising his July line to .356/.397/.559. Fraymi De Leon returned to the Drive, going 2 for 4 with an RBI. Will Turner and Hudson White also chipped in with two-hit efforts. 

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Starlyn Nunez powered a 13-hit offensive outburst as Salem snapped a three-game skid. Nunez was 3 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored, blasting a two-run homer. Nunez has been a thorn in Charleston's side during the series, going 7 for 13 with four extra-base hits in his three starts. Yosander Asencio tripled as part of a three-hit evening, while Karim Ayubi was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI. Starter Devin Futrell allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in four innings, striking out four without issuing a walk. Jay Allmer went 2 2/3 hitless innings to get the win, walking one and striking out a pair. PJ Labriola got the save, giving up two runs in 2 1/3. 

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A pair of hurlers helped the Blue squad to a three-hit shutout in the seven-inning contest. Christopher Cordero went the first four frames, scattering three hits and striking out four while walking one. Cordero has now thrown four consecutive scoreless outings, totaling 15 innings, and has allowed an earned run in just one of his eight appearances on the year. Robert Moreno got the win, striking out four and walking one across three hitless innings. Jhorman Bravo tripled and scored a run as part of his 2-for-4 afternoon. Dorian Soto was 1 for 4 with a stolen base.

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Every hitter reached base as Team Blue exploded for 15 hits, 13 walks, and eight stolen bases. Josue Brito led the way, going 3 for 6 with a double, RBI, two runs scored, and three steals. He put an exclamation point on the performance by coming on to pitch a scoreless ninth inning. Diomer Hidalgo also picked up three hits, adding two runs, a walk, and a steal. Harold Rivas tripled, walked, and drove in a pair. Starter Juanyerlin Duran allowed a run on two hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out four and walking two. Rony Calderon picked up the win in his professional debut with 2 1/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out four of the seven batters he faced. With the win, the Blue squad maintains its 1 1/2 game lead in the DSL North Division race. 

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Players of the Day: Stateside, Starlyn Nunez continues what has been a breakout month. The 19-year-old was hitting just .233/.296/.345 through July 1 in his first taste of full-season ball. Friday's home run was his 11th extra-base hit in 15 games since, as he is 18 for 57 with six doubles and four triples during that stretch, good for a .316/.350/.614 slash line. Nunez is currently ranked 48th in the system. 

Down in the Dominican, Josue Brito continued what has been an outstanding season for the DSL Blue squad. Brito, in his second go-round in the circuit, with his 3-for-6 effort on Friday, is now hitting .257/.467/.608 on the year. Elevating the effort at the plate was his appearance as an Albert Feliz-esque two-way weapon. Pressed into pitching service by a possible injury, Brito fired a scoreless ninth to finish off the blowout win. It is the third time this year that Brito has taken the mound, and he has not allowed a run in his three innings.