The Cincinnati Reds have two affiliates in the Dominican Summer League. On Saturday morning the two clubs faced off against each other for the 5th time on the year and this time around it was the DSL Reds topping the DSL Rojos 1-0. In the process of winning the game the Reds trio of pitchers Ryjeteri Merite (1.0 IP), Stharlin Torres (4.0 IP), and Ariel De La Cruz (2.0 IP) combined to throw a no-hitter.
It wasn’t an easy no-hitter, though. Not that any of them are, but the Reds only had one hit entering the 7th and final inning of the game and the game was scoreless. Every pitch thrown by those Reds pitchers were stressful for not only the fact that they had a no-hitter going, but that the game could go sideways in the blink of an eye.
The Reds offense was able to come through in the bottom of the 7th inning after a hit batter and a walk put the winning run at second base. That brought Rafhlmil Torres to the plate and he came through with a walk-off single into right field.
Four of the five games between the two clubs this season have been decided by one run. Three of them saw the winning run scored in the final inning. Two of those three games ended with the Reds winning via a walk-off hit.
Multiple Players Released
The Cincinnati Reds have released four players on the last two days. With the new 165-player roster limits in the minor leagues teams are going to have to start releasing players as they began to get draft picks signed and assigned.
On Friday the Reds released right-handed pitcher Pedro Alfonseca. The converted outfielder signed with the Reds in 2023 as a pitcher. He was an outfielder in Cleveland’s farm system from 2017-2020. In his two seasons as a pitcher he threw 51.1 innings with 62 walks and 54 strikeouts to go along with a 7.89 ERA while pitching for the ACL Reds, Daytona Tortugas, and Dayton Dragons.
On Saturday the organization released three more pitchers – all of whom spent the 2024 season with the ACL Reds. Jonathan Batista, Ricardo Quintana, and Vladimir Davila all got let go after the complex season came to an end.
Jonathan Batista just completed his second season with the ACL Reds, throwing 37.0 innings with a 7.30 ERA. In his three years since signing he had a 6.50 ERA in 81.2 innings pitched.
Ricardo Quintana had a strong 2024 after a disastrous 2023. Last summer he posted a 9.37 ERA for the ACL Reds in 16.1 innings. This summer he pitched in 13 games and threw 27.1 innings with a 1.98 ERA, walked just six batters, and he had 22 strikeouts.
Vladimir Davila only pitched in one game in 2024. And he had only pitched in two games in 2023. After his first two outings to begin the 2023 season he headed to the injured list and then missed the next 13 months before returning to the mound. His only outing this season came on Tuesday when he threw a shutout inning that included a walk and a strikeout.