Cuban Gracial hits his first home run, others at a steady pace at NPB

HAVANA, Cuba, Mar 11 (ACN) Cuban Yurisbel Gracial hit his first home run of the preseason and a single in three innings Friday, but his effort was insufficient to prevent the SoftBank Falcons' 4-3 loss to the Yakult Swallows.

At Tokyo's Meiji Jingu Stadium and for the Pacific zone, the Cuban, who drove in one of his team's three runs in the game, raised his average to 250 and his total of runs driven in to three.

Joining Gracial with the Falcons are fellow slugger Alfredo Despaigne and reliever Livan Moinelo.

In other games of the day, the Hanshin Tigers defeated the Chunichi Dragons 6-1 at the Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, in the Central Zone.

For Chunichi, Cuban starter Dayan Viciedo, failed in two opportunities and received a ticket to reduce his average to 231.

The Dragons also have Cuban pitchers Raidel Martinez and Yariel Rodriguez, as well as catcher Ariel Martinez, who did not see action today and has yet to hit a hit in 11 at-bats this preseason.

Also, at the ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Cuban outfielder Leonys Martin made his preseason debut by hitting a double in two innings in the Lotte Marinos' 3-1 loss to the Seibu Lions. Thus, his average remained at 500.

His compatriot and teammate, slugger Adeiny Hechavarría, struck out in a relief appearance to lower his average to 200.