Phils' Rodriguez hits for the cycle in VWL

With a frustrating and injury-riddled season behind him, Herlis Rodriguez decided to take things out on Venezuelan Winter League pitchers. 

The Phillies outfield prospect hit for the cycle, stole home and went 4-for-5 with seven RBIs on Saturday to lead Zulia to a 16-3 romp over La Guaira.

Rodriguez became the third player in Aguilas history to complete the cycle, joining Larry Biittner (1973) and Jesus "Bam Bam" Gonzalez (2002). The seven RBIs equaled the club record shared by Jeff Grotewold, Guillermo Quiroz and Ernesto Mejia.

With one out in the second inning, Rodriguez doubled to right field and moved to third on a groundout. After Cubs prospect Bryant Flete walked, the pair pulled off a double steal, with Rodriguez racing home. The 22-year-old drove in two runs with a single to right in the third, grounded into a double play in the fifth and blasted a three-run homer to right in the sixth. He capped the cycle with a two-run triple to right in the eighth that extended the Aguilas' lead to 16-0.

Making Saturday even more special for Rodriguez was the presence of his twin brother, Helmis, a right-handed pitcher in the Rockies organization who is on the La Guaira roster. The two faced each other in 2015 during Class A South Atlantic League action.

Herlis Rodriguez posted a .294/.339/.425 slash line with 10 homers and 61 RBIs for Lakewood that year but missed nearly 100 games with Class A Advanced Clearater this season due to injuries and batted .213 with a homer and 11 RBIs in 48 contests. 

Rays prospect Eleardo Cabrera singled twice, drove in four runs and scored twice for the Aguilas in support of Julio DePaula (1-0), who allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four over five scoreless innings.