Yomiuri closer Raidel Martínez, one of the best relievers in Japanese professional baseball over the past five years, recorded another save on Friday to strengthen his lead in the Central League with 31 saves. The save came against his former team, the Chunichi Dragons, as he protected a 1-0 lead in the ninth inning.
Martínez was dominant, allowing no hits or runs in the final frame to secure the Yomiuri Giants’ 1-0 victory over Chunichi at Vantelin Dome in Nagoya in front of 36,686 fans. With his 31st save of the season, he now holds a 10-save advantage over his closest pursuers, Shinya Matsuyama of the Chunichi Dragons and José Quijada of the Yakult Swallows.
Martínez opened the inning by striking out Seiya Hosokawa. He then retired Miguel Sanó on a harmless fly ball to the second baseman before getting the final batter out to end the game. The Pinar del Río native has appeared in 38 of Yomiuri’s 56 victories this season. Martínez and the Giants have their sights set on winning the Japan Series championship this year.
The Cuban right-hander owns a 1.67 ERA with 43 strikeouts in 37⅔ innings, allowing only 23 hits and seven earned runs. He has also posted an impressive 0.82 WHIP while opposing hitters are batting just .178 against him.
For his career, Martínez has recorded 243 saves in Japanese baseball, the most ever by a foreign-born pitcher in NPB history. He is now only seven saves away from reaching 250, a milestone no foreign pitcher has ever achieved. The hurler continues to build one of the most impressive careers by an international closer in Japanese baseball history, strengthening his case for Nippon League Hall of Fame with every save.