Frederich Cepeda, while playing for the Cuban national team, got a chance to watch Kenta Maeda pitch for Samurai Japan during the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
The Cuban, now with the Yomiuri Giants, got an even better look at the Hiroshima Carp's celebrated right-hander during their first meeting as NPB rivals.
Cepeda hit a two-run homer off Maeda in the third inning to help his own pitcher, Tomoyuki Sugano, and the Giants get back into the win column with a 5-1 victory over the Carp on Saturday night.
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