Cup of Coffee: Rodriguez homers as FCL Red Sox suffer second straight walk-off loss

5/5 Cup of Coffee: The 2026 Florida Complex League season resumed on Monday, and the FCL Red Sox were once again on the wrong side of a heartbreaker. Despite the loss, Jorge Rodriguez (pictured) homered as part of a two-hit effort. Three other players collected extra-base hits as well.

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For the second time in three days, the FCL Red Sox lost in walk-off fashion to fall to 0-2 on the young season. Angelo Ladera got the start and went three innings in his stateside debut, allowing two earned runs on four hits, no walks, one hit by pitch, and one strikeout. Merlin Bido went the next three innings and yielded an additional run. Denison Sanchez and Jeison Payano were each charged with blown saves as they combined to surrender four runs over the contest's final three frames.

Jorge Rodriguez stood out at the plate by going 2 for 4 with one double, one home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored in his 2026 debut. Harold Rivas, who drove in one run, also had two hits. Hector Ramos went 1 for 3 with one double, one RBI, one run scored, and one walk. Franklin Primera singled in one run and drew one walk. Conrad Cason doubled for his third extra-base hit in two games. Tavano Baker went 1 for 3 with an RBI double, one run scored, and one walk. Josue Brito, who stole his first base of the year, and Dorian Soto combined for three walks and two runs scored.

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Player of the Day: Jorge Rodriguez gets the nod for clubbing his first home run in his first game of the season on Monday. The Venezuelan backstop is back in the Florida Complex League to start his 2026 after slashing .289/.359/.410 with three homers and 17 RBIs in 28 games (92 plate appearances) for the FCL Red Sox last year. He is not currently ranked among the organization's top 60 prospects.