  Dutch Team closes exhibition series with win
Nederlands
 DOULIU CITY, Yunlin County (Taiwan) -
The Dutch National Baseball Team closed its series of exhibition games on Thursday with a 4-1 victory against the CPBL University All Stars.
The game was played in Douliu Baseball Stadium in Douliu City, which also was one of the playing sites during the Intercontinental Cup Tournament in 2010.
Before today's game, the Dutch Team was 2-0 in this stadium, which was opened in 2005.
During the Intercontinental Cup, the Orange defeated Italy (10-0), Nicaragua (6-1) and South Korea (3-1) there.
...Douliu Baseball Stadium...
(© Photo: Duco Abspoel |
The Dutch Team closes its preparations on Friday with a training session, then opens the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, March 2 in Pool B against South Korea, starting at 7:30 PM local time (12:30 PM Dutch time).
All games of the World Baseball Classic will be shown live (or tape-delayed) by ESPN America.
The game between the Dutch and Korea will be broadcasted (tape-delayed) on Saturday-evening, starting at 10 PM Dutch time.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, starting at 5 AM Dutch time, the opening game in Pool B between Australia and Taiwan will be broadcast live.
Also live, and starting at 11 AM, will be the game between Japan and Brazil, the opening game of Pool A in Fukuoka (Japan).
Today, the Dutch Team opened the score right away in the first inning.
With two outs, Roger Bernadina doubled and moved on a wild pitch, then Wladimir Balentine followed with a 2-run homerun, his second homer in the four games played in Taiwan.
After the side was retired in order in the second and third inning, two runs were added in the fourth at bat.
With one out, Wladimir Balentien and Andruw Jones singled.
After a strikeout, the bases got loaded when Curt Smith was hit by a pitch.
Next, Kalian Sams doubled to bring in Balentien and Jones to lift the lead to 4-0.
Two runners were left in the seventh inning.
With two outs, Xander Bogaerts (who had struckout in his previous two at bats) and Curt Smith singled, but stranded.
In the ninth inning, Wladimir Balentien added another single, but also was left behind.
Righthander Shairon Martis started for the Dutch Team and struckout five batters in the three innings he pitched to become the winning pitcher.
Six pitchers followed Martis on the mound.
The lone run of the All Stars was scored in the seventh inning off of Berry van Driel.
Mark Pawelek then pitched the eighth inning, struckout three batters, but also gave up two hits.
Leon Boyd threw the ninth inning, struckout one and earned a save.
| Pitching Stats |
| pitcher | INN | SO | BB | H |
| Shairon Martis, W | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Jonatan Isenia, H | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Heijstek | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jonathan Balentina | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Berry van Driel | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Mark Pawelek, H | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Leon Boyd, SV | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Playing in today's game were:
Andrelton Simmons (SS, 0-for-4), Jonathan Schoop (2B, 0-for-4), Roger Bernadina (CF, 1-for-4), Wladimir Balentien (RF, 3-for-4), Randolph Oduber (RF, did not bat), Andruw Jones (DH, 1-for-4), Xander Bogaerts (3B, 1-for-3), Curt Smith (1B, 1-for-2, hit by pitch), Yurendell de Caster (1B, did not bat), Kalian Sams (LF, 1-for-3), Dashenko Ricardo (C, 0-for-2, hit by pitch), Bas Nooij (C, did not bat).
...Coaches Ben Thijssen, Bert Blyleven, Robert Eenhoorn...
...and Hensley Meulens (Manager) follow the action...
...Standing in the front is catcher Dashenko Ricardo... | | 
...Short stop Andrelton Simmons retires a player...
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...Andruw Jones and Wladimir Balentien celebrate...
...the 2-run homerun of Balentien in the 1st inning... | | 
...2nd Baseman Jonathan Schoop makes a nice play...
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...Wladimir Balentien hit his 2nd exhibition homerun...
...Standing behind him is Yurendell de Caster... | | 
...Dutch starter Shairon Martis...
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...Jonatan Isenia pitched the 4th inning... | | 
...Side-armer Jonathan Balentina threw the 6th inning... |
...Berry van Driel with catcher Dashenko Ricardo... | | 
...Mark Pawelek pitched the 8th inning... |
| (© All Photos: Henk Seppen) |
(February 28)
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