WBSC Premier12 star Raidel Martinez reaches 200 NPB saves

WBSC Premier12 star Raidel Martinez celebrated his 200th career save since he started competing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Martinez is the 11th player to notch 200 saves. He reached the milestone in 348 games. The previous record belonged to Kazuhiro Sasaki (Yokohama BayStars), who reached 200 in 370 games.

On August 15, the 28-year-old Cuban right-hander took the mound in the top of the ninth with the Yomiuri Giants leading 6-5 over the Hanshin Tigers at the Tokyo Dome. He struck out the side, earning his 34th save of the season.

""I'm very happy," Martinez commented. "I'm moved to achieve it in front of my family who arrived from Cuba yesterday.."

In his first season with the Yomiuri Giants, Martinez has been stellar. He pitched in 45 games and converted 34 saves. He allowed only seven earned runs, for a 1.45 earned run average (ERA) and struck out 50 batters in 43.1 innings, allowing only 27 hits and nine walks. He broke the Yomiuri Giants record, going 25 games without allowing a run.

The all-time save leader, Hitoki Iwase, may be out of reach with 407, but the all-time leader among import players (Dennis Sarfate, USA) is in sight at 234. Sarfate also holds the single-season record with 54.

The Hanshin Tigers lead the NPB Centra League with a 67-42 reconrd and two draws. The Yomiuri Giants follow with a 53-54 record and three draws.