Cuban Despaigne homers for second straight game at Japan´s final playoff

Cuban Alfredo Despaigne increased his great home run production when taking the ball out of the park for second consecutive day in the final of the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB).

This time it was a solo homer in the fourth inning, thus helping his team, the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks, to win 4-1 in the fourth game of the final (Japan Series) over the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

The Caribbean slugger batted 1 for 4, with two strikeouts, and descended his batting average (BA) to .333, although he amounts six RBIs in this final series, with a highlight for what he did in the third match, when he brought four teammates to home plate.

Another Cuban, lefty setup reliever Livan Moinelo, pitched a third of an inning with two walks, but did not allow runs thus maintaining his ERA immaculate in the grand final.

The Hawks took advantage 2-1 in the Japan series, since the first game ended in a draw and extended their consecutive wins-at-home streak in the Japan Series to eleven, thus breaking the previous record of ten held by the 1970–73 Yomiuri Giants.

With two other victories, Cubans Despaigne and Moinelo would be crowned champions for the second year in a row, while utility Yurisbel Gracial would debut with the title in his first foray into the NPB.