Despaigne's First Home Runs of 2020 in Japan

September 9, 2020

The Cuban Alfredo Despaigne, of SoftBank Hawks, connected his first two home runs of the current Japanese Professional Baseball League season today, in which he made his debut at the end of last month.

With an impact on almost the entire world, Covid-19 delayed this year the incorporation of the batter from the greatest of the Antilles to a tournament in which he has been a prominent figure for more than five years.

Despaigne's performance, which included four runs batted in, contributed to his team's 8-1 victory over Rakuten Eagles on the field of the defeated team in the city of Sendai.

Since his emergence in Japanese baseball in 2014 with the Chiba Marinos club, to which he belonged for three seasons, this Cuban slugger has accumulated 156 home runs.

That number of connections adds to 239 hits of the same type in 12 seasons in the championships of his country for a total of 395 home runs between both competitions.

Meanwhile, Yurisbel Gracial, Despaigne's compatriot and teammate, hit this Wednesday a hit in three at-bats to place his batting average at 320.

Another Cuban, pitcher Raidel Martínez, of Chunichi Dragons, retired the three batters he faced as a reliever in his team's 4-5 loss to Yomiuri Giants.

In that game Dayán Viciedo, Martínez's countryman, hit two hits and drove in one run, his 54th of the event to reaffirm himself as the second best in that department of the Central League.

Leonys Martín, also from the greatest of the Antilles, ended without hits in four at-bats, but his team, Marinos, topped Nippon Ham Fighters 2-1.

On the other hand, DeNA Stars surpassed Hanshin Tigers 6-1 and in favor of the winners Puerto Rican Neftalí Soto recorded a hit and a double, and crossed home plate once.

Also, Seibu Lions thrashed Orix Buffaloes 13-5, which suffered three runs batted in by Venezuelan Ernesto Mejía, and Hiroshima Carp and Yakult Swallows tied 10-10 in a clash extended to the tenth inning.