Johan Oviedo hurled one the best games his career and the grand stage yesterday as he blanked the Chicago White Sox for 6 ⅔ innings, all while scattering five hits and fanning six to earn his first victory of the year in Pittsburgh’s 1-0 victory over the pale holes. The hard throwing righty watched his ERA descend to 3.18 after a rough first start.
Oviedo is only the second Cuban born pitcher to have a quality start for the Bucs, Yoslan Herrera was the other on July 24, 2008 versus the Padres. Oviedo in his own right has done it twice since coming over to Pittsburgh. The right-hander also had a quality start against another Chicago team, the Cubs on September 24 of last year and is 4-2 with a 3.18 earned run average since coming over in a trade from St. Louis late last season.
A solid outing by Johan Oviedo. pic.twitter.com/sEWkOClpaY
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 9, 2023
Another Cuban had a good outing on the mound yesterday, his name is Néstor Cortés Jr. The Cuban lefty pitched 5 ⅓ where he gave up two runs on five hits and retired five via the K to win his second game of the season and lower his ERA to 2.61. The Yankees bested the Orioles 5-2 and Cortés has now struck out eight in 10 innings pitched this season.
Tristón Casas had his best night of the season last night in Boston’s 4-1 triumph over Detroit. The Cuban-American slugger drove in two runs via a double in the second inning and a longball in the ninth to account for two of the four runs for the Bosox on the night. Casas also scored twice on the evening and is hitting .185 on the young campaign.
J.D. Martínez and Miguel Vargas combined for three hits and four RBIs but their best efforts couldn’t stop the Dodgers’ defeat 11-6 at the hands of the Diamondbacks. Martínez is now hitting a robust .333 in the month of April with eight runs batted in, while Vargas sports a .533 OBP and a .945 OPS on the season. Vargas also leads all of MLB with 11 walks drawn.
The Dodgers sent the injured Miguel Vargas to the plate a dozen times in early spring and told him not to swing but instead focus on getting really good looks at pitches.
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 3, 2023
It seems to be paying off….
Vargas leads the major leagues in walks with 8! 😮 pic.twitter.com/w2db6xK3M7
Yuli Gurriel (MIA) 4-1
Nick Fortes (MIA) 4-0*
Nick Castellanos (PHI) 4-1,2B,RBI*
Tristón Casas (BOS) 4-2,2B,HR,2RBI,R*
Aledmys Diaz (OAK) 3-0
Randy Arozarena (TAM) 5-2,RBI,R
Yoan Moncada (CHW) 4-0
Óscar Luis Colas (CHW) 3-1
Yasmani Grandal (CHW) 1-0
Romy González (CHW) 3-1*
Johan Oviedo (PIT) 6.2IP,5H,0ER,5K’s
Néstor Cortés (NYY) 5.2IP,4H,2ER,2BB,5K’s
Yordan Álvarez (HOU) 3-0
José Abreu (HOU) 4-1
Eric Hosmer (CHI) 2-0*
Adolis García (TEX) 5-0
Nolan Arenado (STL) 4-1,R*
Miguel Vargas (LAD) 3-1,2RBI
J.D. Martínez (LAD) 4-2,2B,3B,2RBI,2R
*Cuban-American