Amsterdam opened the score in the top of the first inning off of Kevin Kelly, who was the surprising starting pitcher tonight.
Roelie Henrique led off with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Michael Duursma, then scored on a single by Nick Urbanus, who later stole second base.
Hereafter, Kelly struckout the next two batters.
This run would be the lone earned run in tonight's game.
In the bottom of the first inning, off of starter Rob Cordemans, Neptunus answered with three unearned runs, as the at bat began with an error.
A grounder by lead-off hitter Stijn van der Meer ended in an error and he advanced on a single by Dwayne Kemp.
The bases then got loaded thanks to a bunt-single by Benjamin Dille.
The ball appeared to roll foul but then stopped on the foul-line between home and third base.
Hereafter, two grounders followed, which would have end a scoreless inning when it would not have started with an error.
But now, these grounders accounted for the first two runs.
With the bases loaded, the tying run was scored on a grounder by Gianison Boekhoudt, then Neptunus took a 2-1 lead on a grounder by Rien Vernooij.
The next run was then scored on a double by Christian Diaz.
In the next six innings, Cordemans allowed only three batters to reach base and saw Neptunus get only one runner into scoring position.
After retiring the side in the second inning, the righthander gave up a lead-off single in the third inning to Dwayne Kemp, but he was then caught stealing moments later.
Hereafter, Benjamin Dille singled, but then Cordemans retired the next eight batters in a row.
In the sixth, Dille led off with another single and got into scoring position after Gianison Boekhoudt flied out.
Cordemans retired the side again in the seventh and then was relieved in the eighth.
After giving up the run in the top of the first inning, Kevin Kelly retired eight batters in a row, including seven with a strikeout.
Berry van Driel took over the pitching for Neptunus in the fourth inning.
He retired the side in the fourth, but then gave up a run in the fifth.
Bas Nooij led off for Pirates with a single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Jesse Aussems, then scored when a grounder by Rashid Gerard was misplayed that narrowed the deficit to 3-2.
With Gerard on second base, two grounders ended the inning.
In the following innings, Amsterdam Pirates got more scoring opportunities, but failed to add more runs.
In the sixth, Nick Urbanus walked with one out, which led to the departure of Van Driel.
Jorian van Acker took over and gave up a single to Kenny Berkenbosch, but then Neptunus turned a double play to end the at bat.
In the seventh, with Neptunus leading 3-2, Van Acker gave up a lead-off double to Bas Nooij.
Shortly hereafter, Nooij tried to advance to third base on a grounder to first base by Jesse Aussems.
First baseman Rien Vernooij came in to field the ball and got it in time on third base where Nooij was eliminated.
After a flyout acccounted for the second out, Linoy Croes doubled down the rightfield-line passed the diving Vernooij, which led to a discussion whether the ball was fair or foul.
With Croes on second base, Van Acker was relieved by Loek van Mil, who ended the inning when Roelie Henrique flied out.
Also in this inning, Amsterdam Head Coach Charles Urbanus was ejected by Home Plate Umpire Stenar van Groningen Schinkel after something was yelled from the dug-out.
Neptunus added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Lefthander Robin Schel became the new pitcher to face lefthanded batter Stijn van der Meer.
He bunted on the first delivery by Schel, but grounded out.
Hereafter, Daan Hendrix took over the pitching and was greeted with a single by Dwayne Kemp.
Moments later, Kemp was caught stealing at second base.
Kemp must have said something or it was that he threw his helmet on the ground, anyway, he was then ejected by 3B Umpire Fred van Groningen Schinkel.
At the same time, HP Umpire Stenar van Groningen Schinkel ejected pitcher Diegomar Markwell from the Neptunus dug-out, as something was said there.
And that marked the first time that a father-son umpire combination both ejected someone, not only in the same game, but also in the same situation.
With two outs, Benjamin Dille reached on an error, then Gianison Boekhoudt walked.
A following single brought in Dille and increased the lead to 4-2.
After taking over the pitching in the seventh inning, Van Mil allowed only one batter to reach base.
He walked lead-off hitter Michael Duursma in the eighth inning, then retired the next six batters in a row.
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Neptunus wins vs. Amsterdam to move into tie for first place
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus won 4-2 vs. L&D Amsterdam Pirates on Tuesday-evening (June 23) in the first of three games that were moved ahead.
These games will be played on three consecutive Tuesday-evenings to make room early August when Neptunus participates in the best-of-three final for the European Champions Cup.
