Havana, March 13 (JIT)- Cuban Ariel Martinez made the lumber sound during the four-run tie of his club Nippon Ham Fighters with the Hiroshima Carp, corresponding to the preseason of the Japanese Professional Baseball League 2024.

In the game played at Es Con Field, Hokkaido, for the Pacific League, the lanky matancero player hit two hits in three trips to the batter's box. He also added his first error of the spring and raised his average to .333.

On Tuesday, the same fate did not befall Cuban slugger Cristian Rodriguez, who started as a regular in a 1x2 loss for his team Chunichi Dragons against the Seibu Lions, in the Central League.

Rodriguez failed in two opportunities, including one by way of a strikeout, to reduce his average to .130. The Villaclareño is playing for everything to be included in the first team of the Dragons, something that rarely happens with young contracted players. The season will begin on March 29.