Liván Moinelo put on an exceptional performance at the Belluna Dome, blanking the Seibu Lions. This was his fourth complete game and his first shutout in the NPB, joining fellow left-hander Onelki García as the only Cuban pitchers to achieve at least one shutout in Japanese baseball.
The Pinar del Río, Cuba native allowed only two hits and two walks (0.74 AvgOp), striking out two batters (his lowest strikeout figure as a starter). With this 4-0 victory for the SoftBank Hawks (49-34-4), Moinelo outlasted star Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imai in this outing. The left-hander saw his ERA descend to 1.27 on the season.
In other action in the Nippon League, Raidel Martínez tossed a scoreless inning to notch his thirs hold of the season. The Yomiuri Giants fell to the Hanshin Tigers 4-0 and the right-hander saw his earned run average descend to 1.05 on the campaign.
Cuban action on the day:
NPB:
Liván Moinelo (SH): 9.0IP,2H,0ER,2K,2BB (1.27)
Raidel Martínez (YOM): 1.0IP,H,0ER,K (1.05)
Christian Rodríguez (CD): 3-0 (.231)*
KBO:
Guillermo Heredia (SSG): 3-1 (.279)
CPBL:
No Cuban action on the day.