Thursday’s game between the Gigantes de Carolina and the Criollos de Caguas was postponed due to rain. Both teams are in action on Friday, with the Gigantes taking on the Senadores de San Juan and the Criollos facing off with the Indios de Mayagüez. Here is more from around the LBPRC:
Santiago Strikes Out Nine in Three Innings
Criollos de Caguas starting pitcher Héctor Santiago struck out nine batters in the first three innings in Wednesday’s 12-7 loss to the Leones de Ponce. Despite the impressive feat, Santiago allowed a two-run home to center field in the top of the second inning to shortstop Edwin Diaz.
According to the official LBPRC Instagram page, Santiago is the first pitcher to strike out nine batters in the first three innings since the legendary Satchel Paige did it with the Brujos de Guayama on December 3, 1939, against the Indios de Mayagüez. Paige finished the game with 17 strikeouts. Santiago struck out 13 in five innings on Wednesday.
Santiago’s career-high strikeouts in a Major League Baseball game is 10, a feat he accomplished three times in his 10-year MLB career from 2011-21.
Japanese RHP Yuhi Nishidate Makes Debut for Cangrejeros de Santurce
Yuhi Nishidate made an excellent first impression in his LBPRC debut on Wednesday for the Cangrejeros de Santurce, allowing one earned run in six innings in a 2-1 win against the Gigantes de Carolina.
Nishidate, who plays for the Yomiuri Giants in Nippon Professional Baseball, allowed three hits and struck out six in the win.
The 22-year-old appeared in 10 games for the Giants in 2024 and struck out 54 batters in 38.2 innings. Nishidate allowed just six earned runs, good for a 1.40 ERA.
Tonight in the LBPRC
All Times Eastern Standard Time
6 p.m. – Senadores de San Juan (2-1) at Gigantes de Carolina (2-1)
6 p.m. – Cangrejeros de Santurce (1-1) at Leones de Ponce (1-3)
6 p.m. – Indios de Mayagüez (2-1) at Criollos de Caguas (1-2)
Watch the LBPRC on ligapr.com and the LBPRC mobile phone app.
