The Cuban left-handed pitcher Liván Moinelo achieved his fourth victory of the 2026 season on Tuesday in Japan's Professional Baseball League (NPB), solidifying one of the most dominant starts by a pitcher in the competition, according to a report by Pelota Cubana.
The Pinareño took to the mound at the Mizuho PayPay Dome in Fukuoka and led the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks to a crushing victory of 14-1 over the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Moinelo pitched six and one-third innings, allowing six hits and only one run. He issued two walks, hit one batter, and struck out six opponents.
With the victory, the left-handed pitcher from San Juan and Martínez improved his record to 4-1 and lowered his impressive 0.76 ERA for the season.
The accumulated numbers are hard to ignore: in 35.1 innings pitched, he allowed just 18 hits and three earned runs, with 28 strikeouts and a WHIP of 0.68.
Additionally, the Cuban has completed at least six innings while allowing three earned runs or fewer in each of his five starts, which gives him five consecutive quality outings since returning to the main team.
Tuesday's victory had a special flavor: it was a direct revenge against the same rival that had handed him his only defeat of the season. On September 1, Moinelo lost 2-1 to Nippon Ham despite delivering eight high-quality innings, a victim of the lack of offensive support.
This time, backed by 14 runs from his teammates, the left-hander left no doubt, and the NPB officially confirmed him as the winning pitcher of the game.
The context makes the streak even more remarkable: Moinelo returned to SoftBank's first team on August 11, after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out since mid-May.
Since his return, the player from Pinar del Río has been unstoppable: first, he threw a shutout against Chiba Lotte in six innings, then he defeated Nippon Ham while allowing only two hits, after that he pitched a complete nine-inning shutout against Chiba Lotte, and now he has achieved his fourth victory.
The current performance comes on the heels of a historic 2025 season, during which Moinelo recorded a record of 12-3, 1.46 ERA, and 172 strikeouts in 167 innings, figures that earned him the MVP of the Pacific League, becoming the first Cuban to win this award in the history of the NPB.
With five consecutive quality starts and an effectiveness that ranks him among the best pitchers in the league, Moinelo is poised to have another elite season in Japan.
Related videos:
Filed under: