By Robiel Vega/ @robielcuba87
The final date of this month of May, the members of the Cuban army in Asia had one of the most complete days so far this season, where there were great performances both offensively and from the box.
In the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) League, the Chunichi Dragons they defeated 2×0 the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles with a large Antillean role. Dayán Viciedo hit his sixth homer of the season to put definitive figures in the clash.
The man from Villa Clara reached 124 homers in Japanese baseball and 289 in his sports career, which has now spanned 18 years; In addition, he reached 20 RBIs, 24 runs scored and left his frequencies at .255 / .309 / .406 / .715 when going 2-for-4 with a strikeout included.
But the Cuban participation was not limited to the offensive, since both Yariel Rodríguez and Raidel Martínez had an outstanding job as relievers, liquidating the last two innings of the clash.
In the case of the Camagüeyan, he withdrew one, two and three in the eighth episode, also handing out a couple of strikeouts, to reduce his ERA to 1.74 and reach 14 holds so far this season, to place second in that department in the Central League.
“El Gallero” reached 20.2 innings pitched, in which he has prescribed 28 strikeouts (12.19 K/9), given away 9 walks, allowed 11 hits (WHIP: 0.97) and is batted for a poor average of .149 in 21 outings to the grama.
Finally Raidel Martínez completed the task and saved his thirteenth game, third in his league, allowing a single, but retiring his other three rivals, in addition, with a strike rate of 84.6% (11 in 13).
The turn-down player decreased his ERA to 0.51, with seven hits and only three walks in 17.2 innings and 18 outings. His WHIP is equally impressive at .566, with 20 strikeouts and one earned run allowed.
El Tokyo Yakult Swallows defeated 1×0 to the Chiba Lotte Marines, a game in which Adeiny Hechavarría from Santiago went 2-1 (.218/.242/.286/.528), until he was replaced by his compatriot Leonys Martín, who went blank in a turn, to drop his numbers to .147/.287/.265/.552.
Finally, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks beat Yomiuri Giants 3 × 1 and three other Cubans saw action; Yurisbel Gracial went 1-for-4, with a walk and a couple of strikeouts, to leave his numbers at .280/.355/.370/.725; while Alfredo Despaigne from Santiago – Granma shot his first extra-base hit of the campaign, pinch-hitting a double and raising his figures to .357 / .400 / .429 / .829.
In Corea
Moving on to the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), the Kiwoom Heroes defeated 3×2 al Samsung Lions, y Yasiel Puig he went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a strikeout, bringing his number of consecutive games batting for hits to five. The Cienfuegos raised his offensive line (.218/.318/.372/.690).
Finally, the Doosan Bears succumbed to the Kia Tigers 13×10 and José Miguel Fernández from Matanzas had a hit in four at-bats, with a run scored, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout, to leave his numbers at (.311/.356/.411/.767).
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