Cuban pitcher Raidel Martínez reaches 12 saves in Japanese baseball

September 14, 2020

The Cuban relief pitcher Raidel Martínez, of Chunichi Dragons, saved his twelfth game today in the 2020 season of the Japanese Professional Baseball League.

By not allowing runs in one inning of work, the native of the western province of Pinar del Río preserved his team's 3-2 victory against DeNA Stars, which featured a home run by Puerto Rican Neftalí Soto, author of 14 home runs this year.

With that performance, Martínez lowered his earned run average to 0.96, according to the digital site besiboljaponés.com.

On the other hand, Dayán Viciedo, his compatriot and teammate of the reliever, struck out three times at bat, although he drove in one run with a sacrifice fly.

Yurisbel Gracial and Alfredo Despaigne, also from Cuba and belonging to SoftBank Hawks, went 4-2 and 4-0, respectively, in their team's 0-1 loss against Seibu Lions.

The day also featured victories of 7-6 and 14-6 by Hanshin Tigers and Rakuten Eagles over Hiroshima Carp and Nippon Ham Fighters, respectively.

The felines' victory went to the account of Venezuelan Robert Suárez, holder in this contest of two wins without losses and an effectiveness of 1.34.

Chiba Marines routed Orix Buffaloes 9-2, with three runs driven in by Cuban Leonys Martín to compile 54 in that department, fifth best in the Pacific League, and Yomiuri Giants topped Yakult Swallows 3-1.

Christopher Merecedes, from Dominican Republic, earned the win for Yomiuri, and now accumulates four decisions of that type and the same number of losses in the current campaign.