Raidel Martinez saves 19th game in Japanese baseball

Havana, Aug 22 (ACN) Cuban pitcher Raidel Martinez reaffirmed today as the leader in saves in the Japan Professional Baseball League by getting his 34th save in the 9-8 victory of his Chunichi Dragons against the DeNA All-Stars.

On the mound of the Yokohama Stadium, in front of more than 32 thousand spectators, the speedy pitcher from Pinar del Río stopped in his tracks a 13-strikeout lineup in the game and struck out the three batters he faced.

After this performance, which put his Dragons in first place in the Central League with a two-game difference over the famous Yomiuri Giants, the Antillean has an astronomical average of 1.13 runs allowed per nine innings.

In seven seasons, the considered one of the best closers in the world and a key player for Cuba in the upcoming Premier 12, has an effectiveness of 1.74, product of 58 clean scores accepted in 300.2 innings of work, with 340 strikeouts in his record.

The other Cuban who saw action this day, Ariel Martínez, from Matanzas, went 3-1 with strikeout and ticket included, in the 4-3 victory of his Nippon Ham Fighters against the Lotte Mariners, in a game played at the ZOZO Marine of Chiba.