Raidel Martinez

Tokyo, Jul 2 (PL) Several Latin American relief pitchers had a good performance today in the Japanese baseball league, with special mention for Cuban Raidel Martinez, who confirmed his position as the absolute leader in Games Saved.

The Cuban pitcher did not allow any hits or runs in one inning, with one strikeout, in the Chunichi Dragons' two-run victory over the Yomiuri Giants.

With this rescue, the Caribbean native reached 25, a figure that no other pitcher has in either the Central or Pacific League.

In this other circuit, Mexico's Roberto Osuna, who reached 20 saves after working an episode without singles or runs, in the victory of SoftBank Falcons 3×2 against Seibu Lions.

Panamanian Javier Guerra, Dominican Jefry Yan and Venezuelan Andrés Machado also had good performances.

Guerra allowed two hits in one inning and earned his ninth save as his Hanshin Tigers beat Hiroshima Carp 3×0, and Yan was perfect in Seibu's loss.

Finally, Machado allowed one hit without further consequences, with one run batted in, to record his twelfth save in the Orix Buffaloes' 4×1 win against Rakuten Eagles.

In this last match, the Venezuelan Leandro Cedeño (4-2, with a run scored and a run batted in) also excelled with the lumber for the winners.