Japan, Aug 12.- The left-hander from Pinar del Río had missed the start of the season due to a shoulder injury, an absence that the Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka felt like a silence that lasted far too long.
When the ball finally left his hand, six full innings passed without a single runner crossing the plate, with a stat line of four hits allowed, five strikeouts, and zero walks conceded, portraying the Cuban's dominance over his rivals.
Ninety pitches were enough to subdue the batters, with 60 percent of deliveries in the strike zone, a precision that validated both the victory and the quality of the start.
The night carried the weight of a silent anniversary, as this was Moinelo's 50th start since assuming the role of starter in the Japanese League.
In these outings, he has accumulated a record of 24-8, a winning percentage of .750, and an ERA of 1.63—numbers that few professional baseball starters in the Land of the Rising Sun can display with pride.
The Most Valuable Player of the past season is back, and the Fukuoka mound is his once again.
(Taken from Cubasí)
