Despaigne drives in another run in SoftBank win

Havana, September 23 (RHC)-- Cuban Alfredo Despaigne hit a double and a single in four innings, scored a run and drove in another to contribute to the 5-0 victory of the SoftBank Falcons over the Lotte Marinos in the Japan Professional Baseball League (NPB).

For the slugger from Team Cuba, it was his sixth consecutive game with a hit, three of them with at least one run batted in, according to www.beisboljapones.com.

Now the Cuban, who missed almost the entire season due to injury, raised his average to 254 and his tow total to 21.

In other games of the day, the Dominican Jefry Marte had one hit in 2 opportunities, received 2 tickets and towed a teammate in a 3-run tie in 9 innings between the Hanshin Tigers and the Chunichi Dragons at the Vantelin Dome in Nagoya.

Meanwhile, fellow Cubans Dayan Viciedo and Ariel Martinez were blanked in a 3-3 tie between the Chunichi Dragons and Hanshin Tigers.

Viciedo went 4-0 to lower his average to .276, while Martinez failed in a pop-up appearance to lower his to .226.

Another Cuban, Rusney Castillo, singled and drove in one, but his team, the Seibu Lions, fell to the Rakuten Gables 4-3. His average rose to 222.

None of the Cuban pitchers playing in the NPB saw action on Thursday. On Wednesday, the most outstanding was lanky right-hander Raidel Martinez, who earned his 19th save this season in the Chunichi Dragons' 2-1 win over the Hanshin Tigers. With his perfect performance in one inning of relief, Raidel lowered his effectiveness to 2.11.