ACL Dodgers (Rookie) — W, 16-7 vs ACL Angels

We need to talk about Aidan West. The shortstop went 5-for-5 with four RBI and two runs scored. That’s a perfect night at the plate with real damage attached. Not a bunch of singles squeaking through — West was driving the ball and setting the tone for an offense that piled up 16 runs. Keep an eye on this one.

Abel Lorenzo had a big night of his own, going 3-for-5 with a triple and a double while scoring three times. He was on base all night and doing damage from the outfield corner. Reyli Mariano contributed 3-for-5 with two RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and three runs scored — a complete offensive game from the DH spot. Nico Perez went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two runs, and a stolen base, continuing to show he can impact games without needing a ton of at-bats.

Gio Cueto chipped in from behind the plate with a 2-for-3 line that included a double, a walk, and two RBI. Jose Gonzalez connected on a solo homer while drawing a walk and scoring twice. Even Daniel Mielcarek, who went 0-for-4, still managed to drive in two runs and draw a walk — situational hitting matters even when the line doesn’t look pretty. Moises Acacio added two hits and an RBI in six at-bats.

On the mound, Adriano Marrero gave us four innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts. The four walks are something to watch — he was battling his command — but he limited the damage and kept the team in front. Michael Ramirez picked up the win (his record moves to 1-5, which tells you he hasn’t had much run support this year) despite allowing two earned runs in his inning of work. With 16 runs behind him, the bullpen could afford to be a little loose. Not every night works like that.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — W, 8-7 vs DSL Red Sox Red

A one-run win in the DSL is never clean, but our guys found a way. The story here is plate discipline. Rubel Arias went 1-for-2 but drew three walks and scored three times from the leadoff spot. That’s what you want to see from a young center fielder — the ability to get on base and create havoc. Adrian Del Cid was just as impressive, going 2-for-2 with a double, three walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base. That’s five times on base in five plate appearances. Outstanding.

Oliver Chapman provided the pop, going 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI (and getting hit by a pitch for good measure — busy night). Haram Hernandez went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored, quietly doing his job at first base. Jhosman Theran didn’t get a hit in two at-bats, but he drew two walks, stole a base, and scored a run. In the DSL, learning to work counts and take free bases is arguably more important than results on balls in play.

Enmanuel De La Rosa earned the win to move to 4-0 on the season. Two innings, two strikeouts, no walks, no earned runs. Clean and efficient. A 4-0 record in the DSL is worth noting — it speaks to consistency, even in short outings. We’ll keep tracking him.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — L, 6-10 vs DSL CLE Mendoza (Game 1)

This one got away from us. Nehemias Valdez took the loss and was tagged with a blown save, allowing four earned runs over two innings without recording a strikeout. He walked one, but the bigger issue was hard contact — Cleveland’s Mendoza squad was all over him. That drops Valdez to 0-2 on the year, and it’s a rough outing to digest. Still early in his development, but he needs to find a way to miss bats.

The offense had its moments. Helvin Mendoza hit a two-run homer and Erny Orellana reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with a double and a walk. Luis Tovar drove in two runs on a 2-for-4 day. Roberto Saucedo went hitless but drew two walks and scored a run — continuing a theme across our DSL clubs of young hitters showing patience. The bats were there. The pitching just couldn’t hold it.

DSL Dodgers (Rookie) — L, 3-6 vs DSL CLE Mendoza (Game 2)

A tough doubleheader split against Cleveland’s Mendoza squad. The offense was limited to just three runs on a quieter day at the plate. Luis Tovar provided one of the few bright spots, going 1-for-3 with a solo homer and an RBI — that’s two RBI-producing games across the doubleheader for Tovar, which is encouraging. Luis Luna hit a two-run homer of his own, going 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. When you only score three runs, it’s notable that all of them came via the long ball.

Roberto Saucedo continued to swing it well, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. He was one of the more consistent bats across both games — 2-for-5 combined with two walks, a double, and two runs scored. For a catcher at the DSL level, that’s a solid day’s work.

Dropping both ends of a doubleheader to the same team stings, but there’s context here. These are teenagers in the Dominican Summer League. Development isn’t linear, and what matters most is the process — the walks, the quality at-bats, the adjustments. We saw some of that today even in the losses.