Pito Abreu, first Cuban with 100 hits in 2018

August 1, 2018

The Los Angeles Angels (52-52) returned to the .500 average, by disposing of the Chicago White Sox (36-66), 12 runs to 8, in an offensive outburst that included 25 hits between both teams, with 8 home runs interspersed.

The home run festival had José Dariel Abreu as its main protagonist, who went deep twice (both to left field), with 3 runs scored and 3 runs batted in (reaching 58 on the season), with a walk in 5 at-bats.

Pito Abreu's total home runs rose to 16 for all of 2018 (and 140 in his 5-season Major League career, for those who like those statistics), causing a three-way tie among Cuban sluggers at the top of that category, since Yonder Alonso and Yasmani Grandal already shared the spot. Yoan Moncada is close behind them with 13 home runs to his credit.

To round out the day, Pito reached exactly 100 hits in the year (in his 100th game played), thus becoming the first Cuban to reach the hundred mark, Yulieski Gurriel has 99 hits and Candelita Iglesias 90.

The Chicago infielder has heated up and has 8 hits in his last 5 games, with 4 extra-base hits (a double and 3 home runs), 6 scored and 6 driven in during that span.

After this game the giant from Cienfuegos has statistics for the entire season of 258/321/459 (AVE (average)/OBP (On-Base Average)/SLG (slugging)), with 100 hits (45 extra-base hits (28 doubles, 1 triple and 16 home runs), with 51 scored and 58 driven in, 29 walks and 82 strikeouts, in 388 at-bats and 100 games played.

His countryman and team companion, Yoan Moncada, went hitless in 3 opportunities at bat, with 1 run scored, a pair of walks and two strikeouts (230/309/415).

In summary, for the Angels, Dominican Pujols 5-for-1 with one run scored. Venezuelan Arcia 4-for-2 with one run scored and four runs batted in.

And for the White Sox, Cubans Yoan Moncada 3-for-0 with one run scored, José Abreu 4-for-2 with three runs scored and two runs batted in. Venezuelans Yolmer Sánchez 4-for-0, García 5-for-2 with one run scored and one run batted in. Dominican Leury García 4-for-1 with one run batted in.