Personal record of games saved for Raidel Martínez in Japanese baseball league

September 21, 2024

Cuban Raidel Martínez achieved a personal record today of 40 games saved in the 2024 Japanese Professional Baseball League, in the 7-6 victory of the Chunichi Dragons over the Yakult Swallows.

Thus, the swift right-hander from Pinar del Río left behind his previous mark (39) achieved in the 2022 season, also with the Dragons.

At the Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo, the lanky Martínez retired the three batters he faced in a row in a solid relief inning, to earn his eighth save in eight outings, lower his effectiveness to 1.00 earned run average and increase his lead in the Central League saves title.

The absolute record for saves in Japanese baseball is truly a "barbaric" feat. American Dennis Sarfate set the mark of 54 in the 2017 campaign with the SoftBank Hawks.

So far, the untouchable Martínez has participated in 56 games, with 54 innings pitched, 55 strikeouts, 10 walks and only six earned runs. In addition, he displays a spectacular WHIP of 0.77.

And in another game with Cuban participation, the Nippon Ham Fighters defeated the Rakuten Eagles 7-4, in the Pacific zone.

At the Es Con Field in Hokkaido, and in the ranks of Nippon Ham, the first baseman and cleanup hitter from Matanzas Ariel Martínez went 4-1, with a single and one run scored, to improve his average to .241.