Cuban Gracial stands out in Softbank playoff victory

HAVANA, Cuba, Oct 17 (acn) Cuban Yurisbel Gracial was instrumental in the 10-4 win of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks over the Saitama Seibu Lions in the final stage of the 2018 Pacific League Climax Series in the Japanese Professional Baseball League (NPB).

The Hawks collected 16 hits and LF Gracial batted 3 for 5 with a double and two RBIs in his first NPB postseason.
His compatriot and teammate, DH Alfredo Despaigne, hit 1 for 5, with one run scored.
That result allows the Hawks to tie the series 1-1, to the best of seven games, because the Lions started 1-0 ahead by being the leader in wins in the regular season.
The second match of this final stage of the 2018 Pacific League Climax Series will be played tomorrow, also in the MetLife Dome, with the Hawks, NPB defending monarch, as visitors again.