(Story & Photo by Marco Stoovelaar)
  Zarraga, Daal also make Spring Training-debut
Nederlands
  GLENDALE / GOODYEAR, Arizona (USA) -
On Saturday, Grand Slam * Stats & News reported the Spring Training-debut of short stop Ozhaino Albies in the Major League-team of the Atlanta Braves and on Sunday, catcher Spencer Kieboom played in his first game for the Washington Nationals.
But a few days earlier, two other Dutch players also played in their first Major League Spring Training-game of this season.
Catcher Shawn Zarraga played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and short stop Carlton Daal got into action for the Cincinnati Reds.
At Goodyear, Daal, wearing number 79, made his season-debut last Thursday (March 5) for the Reds in the home game against Cleveland Indians, who won 9-3.
Daal entered the game in the top of the sixth inning when he replaced short stop Eugenio Suarez.
In the bottom of the 8th inning, Daal got his first at bat and grounded out to short.
It was a surprise debut for Daal, as he is no non-roster invitee, players who are in Spring Training-camp with the big league-club, but are not on the 40-man roster.
As is done frequently early during the Spring Training-season, clubs bring over some players from its Minor League-camp to be with the big league-team as additional players for a game.
On Thursday, Daal was one of these players and played four innings for the big league Reds at Goodyear Ballpark, the Spring Training-home of the Reds in Arizona.
...Shawn Zarraga with Haarlem-mayor...
...Bernt Schneiders during the tribute...
...of the Dutch Baseball Team after...
...winning the World-title in 2011...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
At Glendale, on Friday (March 6), Zarraga saw his first action in the big league-team of the Los Angeles Dodgers and accounted for a fine contribution, as he singled in the winning run in a 7-4 win against the Seattle Mariners.
At Camelback Ranch, the impressive Spring Training-home of the Dodgers in Arizona, Zarraga came into the game in the top of the fifth inning, replacing catcher Austin Barnes.
With the Indians leading 4-2, Zarraga came to bat in the bottom of the fifth inning and walked.
He advanced to second base on a following single by Cuban Erisbel Arruebarrena, then advanced on a force play-grounder and scored on a wild pitch to narrow the deficit to 4-3.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Zarraga (wearing uniform number 73), got his next at bat.
Mike Kickham had taken over the pitching for the Mariners and gave up a lead-off single to Yasmani Grandal, who was then forced out on a grounder by Brandon Dixon.
A walk for Matt Carson followed, then Dixon scored the tying run when a throwing error followed a force play-grounder by Paul Hoenecke trying to complete a double play.
With the score now at 4-4, the Dodgers got runners on first and third base when next batter Jarek Cunningham reached on another error.
And that borught Zarraga in the batter's box, who then singled to bring in Hoenecke with the go-ahead run (5-4).
Moments later, Arruebarrena also singled in a run to make it 6-4.
In the eighth inning, Zarraga got his third plate appearance, but this time grounded into a double play.
Last season, both Daal and Zarraga played in an All Star Game.
Zarraga in the Southern League (Double-A), Daal in the Midwest League (Single-A).
The 26-year old Aruba-born Zarraga is playing professionally since 2008 and has done that in the organization of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Last season, he played 75 games in Double-A, then was promoted to Triple-A and played 17 games on the second highest level.
In 92 games total, Zarraga batted .309 (81-for-262), scored 35 runs and batted in 37 runs.
In December, Zarraga was traded to the Dodgers for two players.
In 2011, Zarraga was a member of the Netherlands National Baseball Team, which then captured the World Championship-title in Panama.
21-year old Daal, who is from Curaçao, last year completed his second professional season in the organization of the Cincinnati Reds.
He played in 95 games in Single-A and batted .296 (102-for-345), scored 46 runs and batted in 29, while stealing 13 bases.
In 2013, which was his first professional season, Daal also played in one Spring Training-game for the Reds and then singled in his lone at bat.
(March 9)
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