Having emerged victorious in 13 out of their last 14 playoff games at home, the Las Tunas Lumberjacks have been on a winning streak. Prior to this postseason, they had already secured two out of three finals that commenced with a 2-0 lead. In the ongoing 63rd National Series, the Leñadores are on track for another championship win as they once again kick off the Grand Final with a 2-0 advantage. This was confirmed after defeating the Vegueros of Pinar del Río 6-4 in ten innings during Game 2 this Tuesday. This will be the first time the Lumberjacks play in a final at home with a 2-0 lead and the opportunity to secure the championship in front of their fans. The Vegueros are up against a tough challenge, as the unpredictable nature of baseball can heighten the pressure in various scenarios. Lumberjacks: Halfway to the throne In the first four innings, left-hander Branlis Rodríguez and rookie right-hander Yadier Zamora engaged in a scoreless duel. The Lumberjacks seized the lead in the top of the fifth inning through an RBI double by Héctor Castillo and a groundout to third by Yuniesky Larduet. Speed played a crucial role in the Lumberjacks' initial two runs. Yordanis Alarcón began the inning with a walk, advancing to third on a wild pitch. Another significant factor was Castillo's aggressive baserunning, as he challenged third baseman Juan Carlos Arencibia when Larduet hit a grounder. Castillo swiftly ran towards home plate before the ball reached third base. Arencibia had to quickly field the ball and attempt a throw to the plate, but he struggled to release the ball from his glove in time. Consequently, he had to throw to first base, successfully retiring Larduet. During the fifth inning, Luis Pablo Acosta walked and a throwing error by Rafael Viñales, who was attempting to put out Rolando Martínez after he sacrificed with a bunt, caused complications. Arencibia also executed a sacrifice bunt, putting Pinar del Río in a position to score once again. Despite leaving four runners on base in the first four innings, the team finally broke through offensively when Alexei Ramírez hit an RBI double, leveling the score at 2-2. In the Grand Final, Leñadores manager Abeisy Pantoja showed confidence in rookie Yadier Zamora by allowing him to pitch to Lázaro Emilio Blanco following an intentional walk to William Saavedra. Blanco came in for Yasser Julio González, who was hit by a pitch from Zamora and had to leave the game in the fourth inning. This move provided the Vegueros with a prime chance to seize the lead in the game after 13 innings of offensive play. Nevertheless, just like earlier in the afternoon, Pinar del Río failed to score the go-ahead run with runners in scoring position until Alexei Ramírez's double. Blanco hit a sharply grounded ball towards first base, but Rafael Viñales, the first baseman, fielded it skillfully, and Zamora covered first base promptly, resulting in an excellent out through the classic "3-1" route. *The gestures of the first-class coach, Reinier León, spoke volumes without the need for words: León was urging Blanco to react and run faster towards first base, but it was already too late. It appeared that Blanco wasn't fully committed, or he might have believed the ball was foul, or he simply gave up prematurely. Ultimately, Blanco had three plate appearances in Game 2 and left five runners stranded. Pinar del Río suffered a two-run loss (6-4), where Blanco's lack of productivity was a contributing factor, although he shouldn't be solely blamed for the missed opportunities. In the subsequent inning, the Vegueros pulled ahead for the first time in the Final, capitalizing on a run that came about due to an error in a throw to third base by catcher Yosvany Alarcón. The Lumberjacks persisted in their offensive against Branlis Rodríguez, who took the mound in the seventh inning and yielded a double to Yordanis Alarcón. Given the unavailability of left-hander Raudel Lazo in the bullpen, it made sense for Branlis to continue pitching. Jenier Álvarez entered the game as the first relief pitcher for the Vegueros, but he was unable to prevent Yudier Rondón from delivering an RBI single that leveled the score at 3-3. The Vegueros offense failed to respond once more, stranding six runners on base as they faced the effective relievers Rodolfo Díaz (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB) and Alberto Pablo Civil (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB). Following a three-run deadlock in the seventh inning, the Lumberjacks clinched the game during the Tie Break. Yudier Rondón, the ninth batter in the lineup, had been the final out in the ninth inning. This set the stage for the Lumberjacks to seize a significant opportunity, which they capitalized on. Larduet executed a sacrifice bunt, Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín, who was 0 for 4, was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for the third batter, Yosvany Alarcón. It was the ideal situation that Leñadores manager, Abeisy Pantoja, had been anticipating. Alarcón lived up to the expectations of the team by not letting them down. With the score at 0-1, Álvarez delivered a fastball right down the middle, and Alarcón took full advantage of it by smashing a double to deep center field to clear the bases. As the ball soared through the air, it appeared as though the Vegueros' aspirations were shattered at the Capitán San Luis stadium. Ultimately, all of Pinar del Río's runs were unearned. If the game had gone into extra innings, it was due to left fielder Mario Sánchez preventing a two-run home run by Yordanis Alarcón in the ninth inning. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Pinar del Río attempted to equalize the score, but Leñadores' closer Alberto Pablo Civil managed to strike out Frank Raúl González with the bases loaded. This marked a familiar pattern of dominance, as Las Tunas once again took a 2-0 lead in the Finals for the fourth consecutive time. While we will soon discuss the impressive performance of the Lumberjacks, the significance of this lead goes beyond just the numbers. The concerning aspect of falling behind 0-2 is not just the timing (after two home games) but also the manner in which it happened: Pinar del Río has only led on the scoreboard for one out of 19 innings in Games 1 and 2 of this crucial Final match. There are numerous ways to achieve victory or suffer defeat in baseball. Some teams falter due to their inability to stage a comeback. Others begin the postseason strongly but struggle to sustain their winning streak. Additionally, there are rival teams that fail to put up a fight. The Vegueros of Pinar del Río have attempted to compete against the Leñadores de Las Tunas, the reigning champions, but they have not demonstrated the same dominance they exhibited during the regular season, where they led without losing any five-game series. This marks a crucial juncture: the Vegueros of Pinar del Río have encountered limitations as a result of the collective impact of the Lumberjacks of Las Tunas. There are several arguments that could be put forward to substantiate this situation. The Vegueros have gone 2-for-18 (.111) with runners in scoring position during Games 1 and 2. The Lumberjacks? They are averaging .407 (27-11). Two-strike counts have been a serious problem: Pinar del Río is 3-for-21 with just one extra-base hit. Guess who? Of course: Alexei Ramirez's RBI double that tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning during Game 2. This is not something that was really expected: With one swing, Mario Sánchez (1-for-2) has had more hits than those combined by William Saavedra (0-for-6), Yasser Julio González (0-for-5), Lázaro E. Blanco (0-for-3), Rolando Martínez (0-for-3) and Frank Raúl González (0-for-3), who are 0-for-20 against the Las Tunas pitchers in the Finals. They have scored just two runs with less than two outs. Instead, all five times the Lumberjacks led off the inning by reaching their first batter between Games 1 and 2, they managed to score runs. On a day without the support of the bullpen's main relievers - although Jenier Álvarez has relieved effectively - the support of left-hander Branlis Rodríguez was decisive. The Vegueros have batted .185 with just one extra base hit in two games. These key points have played a significant role in the Vegueros' initial two losses. While additional factors could be included, it is crucial to emphasize the troubling patterns: Pinar del Río has struggled to maintain a lead for more than a single inning. In the realm of baseball, the inability to outperform your adversary severely restricts your strategic options. Coming back every day can be very difficult, especially when up against the current Leñadores team in the Cuban National Series. Their track record of success is impressive. The trend in the last four finals, all starting with a 2-0 lead, is evident: The Lumberjacks have not only won all eight opening games of the finals but have done so consistently. Prior to the 63rd National Series, Las Tunas had been ahead on the scoreboard for 38 out of 54 innings in Games 1 and 2 of the four Finals they participated in. Holding the lead for 70% of the innings played is quite impressive, and this dominance is reflected in the remaining games of the series, showing a noticeable difference of 33%. Based on the statistics, Las Tunas has emerged victorious in two out of three Finals mainly by taking an initial 2-0 lead. The sole defeat occurred in 2018, when the Alazanes de Granma rallied to claim the championship in Game 7. Las Tunas has played in the last two Finals, winning 4-1 against Villa Clara in 2019 and 4-0 against Industriales last year. Despite any doubts about the odds, the Lumberjacks led for 48% of the innings against Villa Clara and an impressive 70% against Industriales the following year. Can you discern the factor behind Las Tunas' decisive sweep of Industriales? The Lumberjacks are performing as anticipated, displaying the caliber of a reigning champion. Having suffered two defeats at home, Pinar del Río must bounce back and showcase the same resilience that propelled them to the top of the league prior to the current playoffs.

I believe that delving deeply into the 63rd National Series of Cuban baseball was not essential to understand that these two truths are indisputable: (1) The Vegueros of Pinar del Río have been the most consistent team throughout the season, hence it was expected for them to make it to the final. (2) The Vegueros are widely considered the top contenders for the championship title this season. Who could argue otherwise? Pinar del Río dominated the regular season with a remarkable 50-24 record, being the sole team to achieve 50 victories. They swept all five-game series in the regular season and went on to defeat Sancti Spíritus and Industriales in six games each during the Quarterfinals and Semifinals. When it comes to determining the frontrunner for the throne, it's important to consider the following: the Lumberjacks of Las Tunas, the reigning champions, have once again demonstrated their dominance. The initial warning signs emerged on Sunday at the Capitán San Luis stadium when the Leñadores triumphed over the Vegueros with a resounding 9-1 victory in Game 1 of the Grand Final. This surprising win highlighted the significant dominance of Las Tunas over Pinar del Río, as the Lumberjacks effectively targeted and neutralized the Vegueros at all crucial junctures. Key 1: Starting pitcher Mario Valle was soon overpowered by the opposing team, facing only seven batters. This represented the first major challenge for the Las Tunas offense, which outperformed the Vegueros by tripling the number of hits, with 15 hits compared to their 5. Key 2: Commencing with a series of three runs, they got off to a solid start that had the potential to pave the way for success. This early advantage enabled the southpaw starter Eliander Bravo to implement his strategic plan with less stress. Key 3: Controlling Pinar del Río's lineup helped preserve the bullpen, marking a crucial moment for the Lumberjacks' rotation, which has been plagued by inconsistencies. Key 4: The defense limited the Vegueros' hitting opportunities, reducing their chances to bat with runners on base. Key 5: The assault continued until the pivotal shot was produced! By the seventh inning, the Leñadores were ahead 4-1, while Pinar del Río missed opportunities to score with four runners stranded in the sixth and seventh innings. Yudier Rondón's double in the eighth inning extended the lead to 6-1. During the game, the duo of Eliander Bravo, a left-handed starter, and Rodolfo Díaz, a right-handed reliever, only allowed five single hits for the Vegueros. However, the Leñadores repeatedly came back by scoring six out of nine runs with two outs. A particular play that drew criticism from Vegueros fans early in the game was when catcher Yasiel Agete missed catching a foul fly ball. Agete took over from Jorge Yoán Rojas in left field to enhance the team's offense, but a defensive problem surfaced when Agete failed to catch a foul fly ball that might have impacted the game's result.. Larduet getting hit by a pitch shifted the inning's momentum. Baldoquín and Alarcón singled to load the bases, and Viñales hit a line drive to short. Sánchez fielded the ball and threw quickly to second base. Baldoquín failed to return promptly, leading Tailon to complete a double play alongside second baseman Rolando Martínez. This prompted many to recall Agete's error. Had Larduet been retired, the double play initiated by Tailon would have concluded the first inning without allowing a run.   Regardless, Valle was unable to prevent the disaster: the Lumberjacks scored three runs with three RBI singles and two outs, concluding the first-inning rally. Valle struggled after throwing only 18 pitches at the mound, and the manager's decision to call the bullpen did not signal a promising start for the "green sox." The first reliever, rookie left-hander Randy Román Martínez, gave up just one run during an extended 4 ⅔ innings in relief. In the bottom of the second inning, Pinar del Río's offense showed a brief burst of productivity by scoring their sole run of the game. Jorge Yoán Rojas started with a single, followed by Yasiel Agete's skillful execution of a hit and run, advancing the runners to first and third base. Rolando Martínez prevented a double play and drove in Rojas with a hit. Despite the promising moment for the Vegueros with two outs, Martínez was caught off guard by the left-hander Eliander Bravo. Pinar del Río only had two runners in scoring position for the remainder of the game. Bravo then proceeded to dominate his next 10 opponents, retiring 13 of the last 15 rivals he faced. When the Vegueros attempted to counterattack, Bravo effectively utilized his slow curveball and flawless defense.   Following a single by leadoff batter Juan Carlos Arencibia and a walk to Alexei Ramírez in the opening inning, Saavedra's strikeout was complemented by a crucial catch from Denis Peña in deep left field. Peña swiftly grabbed Yasser Julio González's fly ball and promptly threw to second base. The third out of the inning came from a fly ball to the catcher hit by Tailon Sánchez. One of the crucial outs that highlighted Bravo's strong start was his effectiveness against the top hitters of Pinar del Río: the quartet consisting of Alexei Ramírez, William Saavedra, Yasser Julio González, and Tailon Sánchez, whom he held hitless at 0-for-10—and 0-for-14 in Game 1. Bravo recorded his only two strikeouts by repeatedly using his curveball against Saavedra in back-to-back at-bats. Despite the Vegueros failing to get a hit in any of their six two-strike counts, the Leñadores demonstrated superior discipline and adaptability to sustain their offensive momentum during the game. A significant portion of their hits (5 out of 15) came with two strikes, and they managed to score six out of nine runs with two outs. Another noteworthy pattern was that Pinar del Río's pitchers struck out seven out of nine batters who led off the inning. While this was a promising beginning for most innings, the pitchers struggled to maintain the expected level of consistency. On two occasions when the Lumberjacks got the lead-off batter on base, they managed to score three-run rallies. This happened in the initial inning following Valle's hit-by-pitch on Larduet, and in the ninth when Yúnior Josué Otero drew a walk. Denis Peña was responsible for four of these six runs, as he punished Valle with a single in the first inning. Then, in the eighth inning, he smashed a three-run homer, propelling the Lumberjacks to a 9-1 lead. The Lumberjacks' offensive achievements were attributed to their efficiency. Despite missing opportunities to advance runners with no outs, they capitalized on game scenarios. Their performance with runners in scoring position was exceptional, going 7-for-14, whereas Pinar del Río struggled, finishing Game 1 0-for-7. In this initial version of the swings presented by the Vegueros, a significant moment may have been when they began at a disadvantage in the count. Eliander Bravo and Rodolfo Díaz worked together to take the lead in the count in 23 out of 34 confrontations during the day. Although there were seven instances of being in a two-strike count, there were only two strikeouts, both by William Saavedra against Bravo. The Vegueros struggled to make necessary adjustments offensively. For Pinar del Río's offense to have a chance at defeating the Leñadores in the Grand Final, they must enhance their productivity. Competing against the Lumberjacks lineup at the current level of the National Series is challenging from top to bottom. To illustrate, the ninth batter, Yudier Rondón, had a successful game, going 2 for 4 with a double, two RBIs, and reaching base three times. Héctor Castillo, the eighth batter, reached base on a walk and later scored. Jeans Lucas Baldoquín, the seventh batter, drove in a run with two outs in the first inning. Yordanis Alarcón, the sixth batter, had an outstanding performance, going 4 for 5 with a double, one run scored, three RBIs, and a stolen base. Should we return to the previous topic? Larduet got on base three times, crossed home plate after surviving a foul fly that should have been caught, and successfully stole a base—despite being caught twice on overly ambitious attempts to reach second base. Roberto Súlivan Baldoquín, who exited the game in the seventh inning due to exhaustion, had hit a home run in each of his last three games. Then we have the heart of the lineup, where it's never ideal to have the team's best hitters facing runners on base. Yosvany Alarcón, Rafael Viñales, and Denis Peña form a formidable trio that has been dominating pitchers in the postseason. Together, they have hit a total of 10 home runs, while all the hitters from Pinar del Río have only hit seven. Looking at Denis Peña specifically, his performance in the postseason has been exceptional, with five home runs to his name, surpassing the combined total of three home runs hit by all Pinar del Río (1) and Industriales (2) batters in 462 plate appearances during the Semifinals. Peña has hit a home run in each of his last four games, putting him just one away from matching the playoff record set by Alexander Malleta (Industriales) back in the 2006 postseason. It may come as a surprise, but Pinar del Río has lost their last eight Game 1s in National Series Finals. In contrast, the Lumberjacks have a perfect 4-0 record. While it's still early in the series, the situation for Alexander Urquiola's team at home could get tricky if they don't bounce back in Game 2. The question remains whether left-hander Branlis Rodríguez can contain the inspired and cohesive teamwork of the Lumberjacks.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez had a monster day at the dish in Sunday’s loss to the Mariners, hitting for the cycle with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. Yordan Alvarez got the easiest leg of the cycle out of the way with a single in the first inning. He then crushed a 429-foot solo shot off of Bryan Woo in the fourth inning to get the Astros on the board. The 27-year-old slugger drove in the team’s second run with an RBI triple in the sixth inning that pulled them to within a run at 3-2. He then stepped up to the plate in the eighth and roped a double into the right field corner before racing around to score on an RBI knock off the bat of Chas McCormick. He becomes just the second member of the Astros in the past 10 years to hit for the cycle, joining Jose Altuve. Yordan is also the second Cuban-born player in MLB history to achieve a cycle, following Jose Abreu's accomplishment on September 9, 2017, while playing for the White Sox against the Giants. On the season, Yordan is now slashing .301/.385/.545 with 20 homers and 54 RBI. Jorge Soler hits leadoff home run Sunday. Jorge Soler went 2-for-4 with an RBI on Sunday. Soler opened the game with the longest homer in the majors this season and the San Francisco Giants beat the Colorado Rockies 3-2. Soler's 478-foot home run, is the longest in the MLB season so far. It was his 11th blast on the season. On Sunday, Dairon Blanco recorded two hits. In the Royals' 4-2 victory over the White Sox on Sunday, Dairon Blanco went 2-for-4. He contributed with an RBI and a strikeout. Blanco's single to left field in the 8th inning brought Hunter Renfroe home, extending the Royals' lead to 4-1. Blanco has a batting line of .238/.286/.310 with one home run, five RBIs, and 18 stolen bases having limited playing time. Yoan Moncada won't be rushed back. The White Sox are being cautious in their plans for Moncada's return, MLB.com reported. Moncada has gone 8-for-15 across five games with the Arizona Complex League club but has had mixed results in terms of his recovery, per manager Pedro Grifol. The team has consistently stated they will be cautious with Moncada, so he could engage in a lengthy rehab assignment. Miguel Vargas was not in the Dodgers’ starting lineup for Sunday’s contest against the Red Sox. Miguel Vargas continues to draw nothing more than the occasional start in left field, though he has been doing side work at third base in recent days and the Dodgers would be wise to give him a shot there over the limited production that they have been receiving from Chris Taylor. The 24-year-old has hit .238/.319/.444 with three homers, nine RBI and a 14/8 K/BB ratio in 72 plate appearances with the big-league club this season. Pedro León crushes homer for Triple-A Sugar Land. Houston Astros outfield/second base prospect Pedro León went 2-for-5 with a solo home run for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday. The 26-year-old continued his power surge this season with his 19th homer of the season. He is hitting .303 with 74 RBI to go with 22 stolen bases and a .913 OPS. The Astros' No. 25 overall prospect is crushing Triple-A right now and patiently waiting for an opportunity at the major league level.

On Wednesday, July 17, the National Baseball Commission revealed the individual awards for the recently concluded season of the 63rd National Baseball Series. This announcement comes as fans eagerly participate in the 2024 postseason. During the announcement, the top offensive, defensive, and all-around players were recognized, along with individual honors given to the standout performers in the preliminary phase of the Cuban championship. Matanzas outfielder José Amaury Noroña and Ciego de Ávila pitcher Ediel Ponce were honored as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) and Rookie of the Year, respectively, during the announcement at a press conference held at the Adolfo Luque Hall in the Latin American stadium in Havana. Noroña was awarded the Most Valuable Player in a Cuban season for the first time. Noroña is now the second player from Matanzas to receive the Most Valuable Player award, following center fielder José "Pepito" Estrada's win in the 1996-1997 season of the 36th National Series. Additionally, Ediel Ponce secures Ciego de Ávila's second best rookie award in a Cuban season, following Eliécer Griñán's award in the 2016-2017 campaign of the 56th National Series. José A. Noroña clinched his title through an outstanding season, guiding his team to the postseason despite challenges in the regular season. He smashed 19 home runs and topped the RBI chart with 79, boasting an impressive offensive performance of .351 / .489 / .625. Additionally, he scored 139 runs and showcased his full offensive prowess by stealing 17 bases. Ediel Ponce, a right-handed pitcher who had just turned 18, performed exceptionally well in the Cuban championship. Despite the offensive nature of the tournament, Ponce stood out with a remarkable 2.15 ERA in 13 starts, covering a total of 71.0 innings. His opponents struggled to hit against him, managing only a .221 batting average and hitting just three home runs. Ponce finished the campaign with an impressive 8-2 record, including a notable stretch of 32 1/3 scoreless innings. He was a key player for the Ciego de Ávila team, which had a pitching staff that averaged 4.79 runs per game. Two experienced Cuban pitchers received awards in the tournament. Santiago de Cuba's Danny Betancourt was recognized as the best right-hander, while Leandro Martínez from Granma was named the best left-hander. Betancourt had an impressive season with a 6-1 record and a 2.60 ERA in 79 2/3 innings, making 15 starts. Despite Santiago de Cuba being a favorite for the championship, they were defeated by Industriales in the quarterfinals after three initial victories. On the other hand, Leandro achieved a 6-2 record with a K:BB ratio of 49:12 in 14 starts and 81 1/3 innings, maintaining a 3.65 ERA with Granma. The accolades presented encompassed the Silver Bat titles for the top offensive performers in the competition, as well as the Golden Gloves honors for those showcasing exceptional defensive skills. In this particular event, seasoned player Alfredo Despaigne was recognized as the premier designated hitter of the championship. This recognition came as a result of his outstanding performance, where he led the tournament with 20 home runs, batted in 59 runners, drew 76 walks, and achieved an impressive offensive stat line of .378/.575/.744. Awards of the Cuban season 2024/63 National Series Most Valuable Player (Martín Dihigo Award): José A. Noroña, Matanzas Rookie of the Year (Yadier Pedroso Award):  Ediel Ponce, Ciego de Ávila Top Right-handed Pitcher (José A. Huelga Award):  Danny Betancourt, Santiago de Cuba Top Left-handed Pitcher (Santiago "Changa" Mederos Award):  Leandro Martínez, Granma Silver Bats/63 National Series (2024) C:  Yosvani Alarcón, Las Tunas 1B:  William Saavedra, Pinar del Río 2B: Jeison Martínez , Mayabeque 3B:  Osvaldo Abreu, Granma SS:  Roberto Baldoquín, Las Tunas OF:  Yoelquis Guibert, Santiago de Cuba OF:  José A. Noroña, Matanzas OF:  Over L. Cremet, Guantánamo Designated Hitter:  Alfredo Despaigne, Granma Utility:  Yudier Rondón, Las Tunas Gold Gloves/63 National Series (2024) C:  Lázaro H. Ponce, Mayabeque 1B:  José A. Jiménez, Artemisa 2B:  Alexis M. Varona, Sancti Spíritus 3B: Euclides E. Pérez, Santiago de Cuba SS:  Adriel L. Hechavarría, Holguín OF:  Alexander Jiménez, Ciego de Ávila OF:  Yoasán Guillén, Mayabeque OF:  Carlos de la Tejera, Artemisa P: Andy Vargas, Industriales All-Around Team/63 National Series (2024) C:  Oscar W. Valdés, Industriales 1B:  Alexei Ramírez, Pinar del Río 2B: Jeison Martínez , Mayabeque 3B:  Osvaldo Abreu, Granma SS:  Roberto Baldoquín, Las Tunas LF:  Dennis Laza, Mayabeque CF:  Yoelquis Guibert, Santiago de Cuba RF:  José A. Noroña, Matanzas

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Andy Ibáñez went 1-for-2 with a solo homer and a walk against the Dodgers on Saturday. Andy Ibáñez drew a walk in the third inning, then took Justin Wrobleski deep for a solo homer in the fifth before leaving for a pinch-hitter in the seventh when the Dodgers brought a right-hander in out of the bullpen. The 31-year-old infielder is hitting .285/.321/.438 with four homers, 22 runs scored, and 21 RBI across 140 plate appearances. His ability to contribute in power categories, albeit inconsistently, provides value to the team, however, his high strikeout rate and low walk rate limit his upside in on-base percentage leagues. Ibanez continues to be a situational player whose value spikes when he's connecting well, as seen in today's game. Luis Robert Jr. went 1-for-4 with an RBI and two steals against the Pirates on Saturday. Robert Jr. reached on an error in the fourth inning and stole second. He later drove in a run with a base hit in the sixth before collecting his second steal of the game. The outfielder has struggled to fully get going this year, but he has seven stolen bases and two homers in 11 July contests. The 26-year-old outfielder is hitting .222/.293/.481 with 11 homers, 23 runs scored, 23 RBI, and 10 steals across 174 plate appearances. Astros signed INF Aledmys Díaz to a minor league contract. No real shocker here as Díaz winds up back with Houston just a couple weeks after being released by the Athletics. The 33-year-old infielder was a versatile fixture in the Astros’ title-contending runs from 2019 through 2022. There’s probably no impact for the Astros at this advanced stage of his career, but he’s a reliable bench option for Houston moving forward. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. delivers run in return. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-5 with an RBI in Saturday's 12-1 win over Toronto. Gurriel returned to the lineup Saturday after missing two games due to general soreness. The outfielder has hit safely in eight of the last nine games, going 10-for-40 with eight RBI.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yandy Díaz went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI on Friday against the Guardians. Yandy Díaz went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Friday's 2-0 win over the Guardians. Yandy singled in the third inning and drove in a run on his 20th double of the year in the fifth. He later added a single in the seventh and has logged multiple hits in three of his past six games. On the year, the 32-year-old is hitting .276 with eight home runs, 45 RBI and 35 runs scored over 408 plate appearances. Yariel Rodríguez gave up two runs in four innings with seven strikeouts against the Diamondbacks on Friday. Yariel Rodriguez, 27, gave up four hits, and also walked three while throwing 47-of-82 pitches for strikes. The right-hander certainly had his bat-missing arsenal going, but the swing-and-misses and the free passes kept him from going deep into the contest. A promising — if slightly disappointing — result. Yariel failed to complete six innings for the first time in his three July starts. He was a bit inefficient, but the Blue Jays' offense was able to get him off the hook for the loss. Rodriguez has a 3.78 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 36:18 K:BB over 33.1 innings through his first eight big-league starts. That walk rate is likely to remain an issue, though there's obvious upside with his strikeouts, and he's only given up three home runs so far. He’ll likely make his next start shortly after the All-Star break. Randy Arozarena swipes bag in win. Randy Arozarena went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 2-0 win over the Guardians. Arozarena has been solid in July, logging hits in nine of 10 games with a homer and three steals. On the season, the outfielder is hitting a disappointing .204 but has contributed 12 home runs and 13 stolen bases over 371 plate appearances. Luis Robert Jr. went 1-for-4 and drove in the White Sox’ lone run in Friday night’s loss to the Pirates. The 26-year-old outfielder actually opened the scoring in the ballgame with a two-out RBI single off of Marco Gonzales in the third inning. That would wind up being the extent of the White Sox’ offensive attack — and Robert’s only hit in the ballgame. On the season, he’s now slashing .221/.294/.487 with 11 homers, 22 RBI and eight stolen bases. Yordan Alvarez returned to the Astros’ starting lineup for Friday night’s series opener against the Rangers. The 27-year-old slugger was pulled from Wednesday’s game due to tightness in his right hip and sat out Thursday’s ballgame as a precautionary measure. He’s feeling much better on Friday he returned to the Astros’ lineup as their designated hitter. He went 2-for-3 with a RBI and a walk in a 6-3 victory against the Rangers. Yordan has gone 4-for-16 with four walks and five strikeouts over his past six games, though that mini slump was preceded by a six-game stretch in which he went 11-for-22 with four doubles and three homers. Once again, Lourdes Gurriel was be on the bench on Friday. Lourdes Gurriel wasn't in the Diamondbacks' lineup for Friday's game versus Toronto. General soreness caused Gurriel to sit down Thursday's game, and it seems he needed another day of rest in order to fully recover.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Randy Arozarena went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run against the Yankees on Thursday. The home run was Arozarena’s 12th of the season. He’s 24-for-81 (.296) with four home runs, 10 RBI and five stolen bases in his last 23 games. Arozarena is hitting just .203 with a .679 OPS on the season, but he’s certainly heading into the All-Star break on a positive note. Aroldis Chapman fired a scoreless inning to get a save against the Brewers on Thursday. Chapman didn’t allow a hit and picked up a strikeout to pick up the save and secure a victory for Paul Skenes after Skenes threw seven no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts prior to exiting. It was Chapman 325th career save, passing Huston Street for 20th in the all-time list. Chapman has consistently seen ninth-inning work since David Bednar got injured June 22, but Chapman's allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and six walks across 7.2 innings with three saves in four opportunities during that stretch. Yandy Diaz went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored against the Yankees on Thursday. Yandy Diaz lead the game off for Tampa Bay with a double that was scorched and may or may not have hit the catwalk at Tropicana Field. He came around to score on Randy Arozarena’s home run. Diaz also lead off the third inning with a double and scored on an RBI single by Brandon Lowe. Diaz is hitting .272 with a .724 OPS on the season. Jorge Soler was back in the Giants’ starting lineup on Thursday. Soler missed two days with an illness but was back in the lineup as the lead-off hitter and designated hitter. He went 1-for-4 in the game leaving his BA at .224 for the year, with 10 HRs and 32 RBIs. Yasmani Grandal delivered clutch double. Yasmani Grandal went 1-for-4 with an RBI double during Thursday's 1-0 win over the Brewers. Grandal broke the stalemate in the seventh inning, tagging Aaron Civale for a one-out double to score Jack Suwinski from first base. Grandal started Thursday's contest behind the dish after yielding to Joey Bart in each of the Pirates' previous three games. In 132 plate appearances, Grandal is slashing .184/.214/.304 with 22 strikeouts and only five walks. Nestor Cortes allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings and took the loss against the Rays on Thursday. Cortes gave up seven hits, walked two and struck out four. Cortes had posted a quality start in four of his last five games, but was hit hard in this one. Randy Arozarena hit a home run in his first at-bat, but Yandy Diaz and Jose Siri both hit doubles with at least 100 mph exit velocity that easily could’ve been home runs as well. Cortes’ ERA is up to 3.67 on the year. Yordan Alvarez was absent from the lineup for Thursday’s showdown against the Marlins. No real surprise here as the Astros aren’t going to take any chances with their middle-of-the-order lynchpin with the All-Star break in a few days. The 27-year-old superstar made an early exit from Wednesday’s contest due to right hip tightness. It doesn’t sound like he’ll wind up requiring a trip to the injured list, but he might not play a ton over the next few days. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. dealing with soreness. Gurriel was out of the lineup Thursday to manage "bumps and bruises", Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reported. Gurriel was on the bench Thursday after going 2-for-11 with a walk in the first three games of the series against Atlanta. He was available as a pinch hitter and there was no indication that he's dealing with anything serious. He should be back in the lineup Friday, but that will be worth confirming before Arizona kicks off a series with Toronto at 9:40 pm ET.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Adolis García delivered the winning run. Adolis García hit a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Rangers, finishing 1-for-4 in the game. After taking a break for mental rest on Sunday, García came back strong on Tuesday by delivering the decisive hit with his eighth-inning homer. Despite a slow start in July, going 4-for-27 (.148), he managed to hit three extra-base hits. His current season stats stand at a .215/.279/.417 slash line with 17 home runs, 45 RBIs, 47 runs, and seven stolen bases in 87 games. On Tuesday, Randy Arozarena recorded a double, a walk, a run scored, and a stolen base, going 1-for-3 in the game against the Yankees. Randy Arozarena has faced notable challenges for extended periods this season, holding a .202 average and a .674 OPS over 359 plate appearances. Yet, starting from June 1, he has shown improvement by batting .286 with a .868 OPS in 32 games. Moreover, Arozarena's enhanced on-base skills have led to an increase in stolen bases, with him successfully stealing five bags in six attempts in his recent 17 games. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. got a hit on Tuesday. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 1-for-3 against the Braves on Tuesday. In his last 10 games Gurriel Jr. has a slugging percentage of .581 and three home runs. He is set to face RHP Charlie Morton on Wednesday. Overall, Gurriel is hitting .269 with 15 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs and 14 walks, and will look to extend his seven-game hitting streak. He's batting .286 with one homer over the course of those seven games. Yordan Alvarez returned to action on Tuesday. Yordan Alvarez, the Houston Astros outfielder and designated hitter, returned to the lineup on Tuesday against the Miami Marlins and pitcher Trevor Rogers. Alvarez, who had left Saturday's game prematurely due to a pitch hitting his right knee, took on the role of designated hitter and batted third. Despite not playing on Sunday, the 27-year-old All-Star showed a quick recovery following a rest day on Monday. In the game on Tuesday, he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. On Tuesday, Luis Robert Jr. made a comeback to the White Sox's lineup. The White Sox had Luis Robert Jr. in the starting lineup on Tuesday, but the game was halted because of rain. Luis Robert has a batting average of .224 this season, along with 10 home runs, 19 RBI, and seven stolen bases. Jorge Soler was scratched from lineup. According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Jorge Soler was removed from the Giants' lineup for Tuesday's game against Toronto because of an illness. Although Soler was an option from the bench, he refrained from participating in the game. The experienced hitter has a batting average of .224 (64-for-286) with 10 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 45 runs scored in his debut season with the Giants. Yosver Zulueta optioned to Triple-A. The Reds have optioned Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville. Zulueta will head back to the minors in a corresponding move for Nick Lodolo returning from the injured list. He will remain a depth option for the Reds in Louisville. Miguel Vargas went hitless Tuesday. Miguel Vargas went 0-for-4 with a strikeout on Tuesday's 10-1 loss to the Phillies. The 24-year-old has been productive when given the opportunity this season, slashing .294/.351/.549 with three homers, four doubles, nine RBI, 10 runs and a stolen base over 57 plate appearances. Nevertheless, despite hitting a crucial home run in the eighth inning to put Los Angeles ahead 4-3 against the Brewers on Saturday, he has struggled since then, going 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. Vargas has not been a regular starter, having only been in the lineup for three games out of Los Angeles' last 10 matches.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drives in a run and steals a base. In Monday's extra-innings defeat against Atlanta, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. contributed by going 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base. His RBI came from a sacrifice fly, and he successfully stole his fourth base of the season. With a total of 55 RBIs this season, he ranks second on the team behind Christian Walker (65). Gurriel has been in excellent form recently, hitting .352 (25-for-71) with an impressive .952 OPS in the past three weeks. During the last 17 games, he has recorded eight extra-base hits, 13 RBIs, and 10 runs. Raisel Iglesias secured his first win of the 2024 season. In the Braves' 5-4 extra-inning victory against the D-backs, Iglesias delivered two innings without allowing any hits. Despite giving up an unearned run in the 10th inning, the Braves secured another run in the 11th inning, granting Iglesias his first win of the season. Throughout his two innings of pitching, Iglesias either issued walks or struck out the batters he encountered. Adolis García was moved down to fifth in the Texas lineup on Monday after being benched on Sunday. It was long overdue. Adolis had a .280 OBP overall and had been struggling, hitting just .163/.255/.296 in his last 37 games since May 24. On Monday, he went 1-for-5 with a run scored and three strikeouts. This year, Adolis has faced significant challenges with breaking pitches, as evidenced by his two highest K% rates on the curveball (50.0), the split-finger (44.4), and the sweeper (37.5), two of which are much higher than those shown in 2023, curveball (22.2), and sweeper (25.6). Yosver Zulueta called up to the major leagues. Zulueta has been brought back to the Reds from Triple-A Louisville on Monday. In his first major league appearance with the Reds last month, Zulueta allowed one run and struck out four batters in a three-inning relief outing before being returned to Louisville. The 26-year-old will now serve as a middle reliever during his current time in the major leagues. Luis Robert Jr. was given the day off on Monday. He was absent from the starting lineup in Monday's match against the Twins. Despite starting in the White Sox's last 12 games, there was no indication of any injury following Sunday's 7-4 defeat to the Marlins. Therefore, he was simply resting on Monday. Robert later joined the game and had a performance of 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored, and a strikeout. The Braves have designated outfielder J.P. Martínez for assignment. Julio Pablo Martínez is being removed from the 40-man roster to accommodate outfielder Eddie Rosario, who has been called up from Triple-A Gwinnett for Monday's game against Arizona. Despite an impressive season in the minors for the Rangers last year, where he recorded a .963 OPS in 82 games, the 28-year-old Martinez struggled to maintain that form in Triple-A with the Braves this season, batting .244/.335/.360 in 60 games. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, he will be able to explore free agency.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Aroldis Chapman walked three batters, allowed two hits and two earned runs in a disastrous ninth inning on Sunday against the Mets. He also struck out two batters. The Mets took some tremendous at bats against Chapman in this ninth inning. Francisco Alvarez walked on eight pitches. Harrison Bader laced a single after seven pitches. Then Jose Iglesias walked after eight pitches and multiple foul balls to load the bases for Francisco Lindor who promptly hit a go-ahead single. All in all, Chapman threw 40 pitches! That’s the most he’s thrown in a single inning since 2015 and he’s been shaky all season. Johan Oviedo is already throwing from 90 feet. Johan Oviedo increased his throwing distance to 90 feet to begin July, MLB.com reports. Oviedo is progressing in his return from Tommy John surgery and recently increased his throwing distance from 75 feet. He is expected to be ready to begin the 2025 season. Jorge Soler did not get any hits. In the Giants' 5-4 defeat to the Guardians, Jorge Soler, who was the designated hitter and leadoff for the team, went 0-for-3 with a walk. This marked his second hitless game out of 6 in July, following a strong June where he batted .284 with 3 home runs, 21 runs scored, 15 RBIs, and 11 walks. However, his performance in July has been less impressive, with just a .160 batting average, .250 on-base percentage, and .360 slugging percentage, along with one home run and one RBI. Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena combined for one hit during Sunday's game. In a lopsided 13-2 defeat against the Rangers, Yandy Díaz went 1-for-4 with a strikeout, while Randy Arozarena went 0-for-3. Yandy has bounced back offensively, improving his early-season results, while Arozarena continues to struggle. After a strong June where Arozarena posted a slash line of .291/.424/.468 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs, he has started July hitting .261/.246/.391 with 6 hits in 6 games, including a multi-hit game. Yennier Cano locks down hold No. 23. Yennier Cano picked up his twenty third hold of the season in a 6-3 win over the A's on Sunday after pitching a scoreless eighth inning. He struck out two in the outing. The 30-year-old issued a walk and needed 21 pitches - 11 strikes - to complete his outing. He now sits at a 2.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB over 37.1 innings. Andy Pagés and Miguel Vargas went hitless. Pagés and Vargas both went hitless in a 9-2 defeat against the Brewers on Sunday, going a combined 0-for-8. In the game, each player went 0-for-4, with Vargas striking out twice. These promising young players are vying for a permanent spot in the potent Dodgers lineup, but they continue to face challenges at the plate, especially Vargas in terms of securing playing time. Adolis García was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s bout against the Rays. Adolis took a seat to begin Sunday’s game as he continues to struggle with a .215/.280/.413 slash, and he’s gone hitless in his last 10 at-bats over three games. Adolis' season-long struggles have continued into July so far, as he's gone 2-for-18 (.111) with two doubles, two walks, seven strikeouts and a stolen base in five games, including going hitless in each of his last three games. The 31-year-old Cuban slugger does have 16 home runs and 44 RBI in 85 games in 2024, so the power hasn't gone away, but he's hitting just .215 (68-for-317) with a .280 on-base percentage and .694 OPS after making his second All-Star team and leading the Rangers to their first-ever World Series championship last year. Yordan Alvarez was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game against the Twins due to a right knee contusion. Yordan Alvarez was pulled from the loss to Minnesota on Saturday after he was plunked in the knee. The 27-year-old slugger started Sunday’s game on the bench as a precaution with Mauricio Dubon in left field and Yainer Diaz the designated hitter. Yordan should be considered day-to-day. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit the bench after making 12 straight starts. He posted a .320/.333/.600 slash line with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI during that span. Yariel Rodríguez held the Mariners to one hit in six scoreless innings to get hit first MLB win Saturday in the Blue Jays’ 5-4 victory. Yariel Rodríguez struck out six and walked two in a very impressive outing for the 27-year-old. He’s basically dominated the top two teams in the AL West in his last two starts while allowing just one run over his 12 2/3 innings to lower his ERA to 3.77. Rodríguez has certainly dealt with some command issues at times, but there’ve been enough quality outings to suggest he can be a helper over the final two-plus months of the season.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Raisel Iglesias allowed a hit and struck out a batter on Wednesday to nail down the save against the Giants. Iglesias allowed a hit and struck out one over one scoreless inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 3-1 win over the Giants. Iglesias' last two outings were in non-save situations. He's on a five-inning scoreless streak and has given up just two runs across 10.1 innings since the start of June. For the season, the closer has a 2.27 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 28:7 K:BB through 31.2 innings while converting 21 of 23 save opportunities. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer and two runs scored against the Dodgers on Wednesday. Gurriel Jr. put the Diamondbacks on the board with a sacrifice fly in the first inning to bring home the first run. He later slugged a two-run homer in the sixth to extend the lead. Gurriel Jr. then doubled in the eighth and scored on a double by Eugenio Suárez. The outfielder continued to hit in July after a highly productive June. Since June 1, Gurriel is 35-for-105 (.333) with six home runs, 20 RBI and eight additional runs scored over 28 games. Gurriel Jr. is hitting .268/.301/.430 with 12 homers and 51 RBI across 339 plate appearances. Yordan Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI, three runs scored, and a walk in the Astros’ 9-2 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Alvarez went 3-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, a walk, three runs and three RBI in a 9-2 victory versus the Blue Jays on Wednesday. Alvarez was a constant thorn in Toronto's side in the contest. He plated Houston's first run with a third-inning double, added a tiebreaking solo shot in the sixth inning and produced another RBI with a double in the eighth. Alvarez has gone deep in each of his past three contests, batting .545 (6-for-11) with three long balls, eight RBI and six runs over that span. After an uncharacteristic slow start to the season, Alvarez is now on pace to have career numbers across the board along with a career-high in games played. If he continues this domination with the bat he could easily finish in the top 3 for AL MVP once again this season. Jorge Soler went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored on Wednesday against the Braves. Soler seems to enjoy hitting lead-off. He’s hit safely in five straight games with six extra-base hits over that span since being put back atop the order. He’s very slowly gotten his feet wet after a miserable start to the season and we know how hot he can get once he finds his groove. Aroldis Chapman struck out three and allowed one run (zero earned) over two innings on Wednesday against the Cardinals to pick up his first win of the season. Chapman hurled a scoreless ninth inning to send the contest to extra innings before allowing the ghost runner to cross the plate in the ensuing frame. Fortunately, the Pirates wound up rallying for a walk-off victory in the bottom of the 10th inning. The 36-year-old southpaw has done a nice job filling in for injured stopper David Bednar recently and figures to continue closing for Pittsburgh through the Midsummer Classic. Yasmani Grandal took seat Wednesday. Grandal was out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cardinals. Grandal has logged merely three hits in his last 23 at-bats with two RBI and no runs. Yanquiel Fernández notches four hits, homer for AA Hartford. Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Yanquiel Fernández was 4-for-5 with a home run for Double-A Hartford on Wednesday. The 21-year-old is off to an 8-for-15 start in three July games with two homers and five RBI. The Rockies No. 4 prospect is hitting .284 with eight homers and 42 RBI in an impressive season so far in Double-A. Fernández has 60-grade power and profiles as a plus-contributor in the power categories. The Cuban is a name to monitor as he continues to progress through the Rockies' minor league system. Eventually hitting at Coors Field would be a nice setup for Fernández but that could be a year or two away.

Cuban Players News for the 2024 Major League Baseball season. A compilation of several sources Yordan Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in a loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday. Alvarez has homered in back-to-back games to open up July, bringing his season total to 18. The 27-year-old featured in the Astros' five-run fifth inning, plating César Salazar and José Altuve on a three-run shot off José Berrios with two outs. Alvarez is 10-for-25 (.400) with eight runs, five walks and one strikeout across his last seven games. Jorge Soler went 1-for-5 with a home run in Tuesday’s win over the Braves. Soler hit his 10th homer of the season on Tuesday night when he hit a 407-foot shot off Reynaldo López to give the Giants their first run of the game. Soler has now hit in three straight games and has driven in three RBI over that span while tallying five extra-base hits. The recent power surge is an encouraging sign for the veteran DH, who entered the day slashing .230/.311/.398. Luis Robert Jr. went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, and a stolen base in a loss to the Guardians on Tuesday. Robert drove in two runs on a 363-foot home run in the sixth inning and then knocked in two more on a game-tying single in the seventh. The outfielder has tallied seven hits and three home runs during a modest five-game hit streak and has hit safely in eight of his past ten contests. On the season, he is hitting a disappointing .215 but does have 10 home runs and four steals over 133 plate appearances. On the other hand, he also didn’t even attempt to throw out the winning run at home on a routine fly ball to center field in the ninth inning, so it’s fair to wonder how motivated he might be on a White Sox team going nowhere with rumors of trades swirling. Perhaps the best thing for all is if Robert Jr. gets traded at the deadline. Athletics designated INF Aledmys Díaz for assignment. Aledmys has been discarded from Oakland’s roster to make room for younger players to come up and get an opportunity moving forward. Aledmys has gone just 3-for-29 in 12 games with the A's this season, and his poor performance has now officially caused him to lose his 40-man roster spot. The 33-year-old owns just a .621 OPS over 32 plate appearances in the minors this season, making it likely he passes through waivers unclaimed. The veteran infielder signed a two-year, $14.5 million deal prior to last year and finishes his tenure in Oakland with a disastrous .585 OPS with four homers and one steal in 374 plate appearances over 121 games. Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez secured holds in Orioles' win on Tuesday. Yennier Cano and Cionel Pérez secured their 21st and 11th holds, respectively, in a crucial 2-0 victory over the Mariners. As a result of the Yankees' loss to the Reds, the Orioles remain alone in first place in the American League East. Cano took over from starting pitcher Grayson Rodríguez in the seventh inning, finishing the remaining two outs flawlessly with a strikeout in just 8 pitches, 5 of which were strikes. His performance lowered his ERA to 3.06 for the season, maintaining a no solid 35:17 SO:BB ratio. On the other hand, Cionel completed a perfect eighth inning, without any strikeouts but needing 11 pitches to preserve the 2-0 lead. It was Cionel's 11th hold, lowering his ERA to 3.96.