Amsterdam Pirates struck with three runs in the second inning off of DSS-starter Tim Halderman.
Kenny Berkenbosch led off with a walk, then Remco Draijer was hit by a pitch and the two advanced on a grounder.
A single by Jesse Aussems then brought in the first run.
Hereafter, Draijer scored on a sacrifice squeeze bunt by Rashid Gerard to make it 2-0.
Aussems moved to second base on the bunt, then scored the next run on a following single by Linoy Croes.
Moments later, Roelie Henrique walked and a balk put runners on second and third base, but they were left behind.
And so, Amsterdam had taken an early comfortable lead, but was unable to take more distance.
The team was silenced and held scoreless in the next four innings.
Halderman gave up a 2-out single to Draijer in the third inning, but then followed with a strikeout.
The righthander retired the side in the fourth.
In the fifth, he gave up a 2-out single to Nick Urbanus, who stranded on second base.
Halderman was relieved by Mark van Deursen, who also did fine, as he retired the side in the sixth.
Amsterdam then added an insurance run in the seventh inning off of new pitcher Max Ploegstra.
Rashid Gerard led off with a single, but was forced out on a grounder by Linoy Croes, who then stole second base.
With two outs, Croes also stole third base, then scored on a double by Michael Duursma, which was to be an important and deciding run.
Amsterdam-starter Kevin Heijstek encountered not much problems in the eight innings he pitched.
He gave up a lead-off single to Mark Smit in the first inning, but retired the next three batters.
In the second, the righthander was supported with a double play and he retired the side in the third at bat.
In the fourth inning, DSS got two baserunners when Mitchell Koot singled with one out and Seb Visser did the same with two outs.
Hereafter, Heijstek ended the at bat with a strikeout.
In the seventh, Amsterdam turned another double play and DSS left a runner on first base after Joffrey Heus had singled with two outs.
After Heijstek had retired the side for the third time in the eighth inning, Daan Hendrix took over the pitching in the ninth to close the game.
But then, DSS became very productive and narrowed the deficit to 4-3.
DSS got the bases loaded when Mitchell Koot and Tino van Erk both singled and Seb Visser walked.
A following walk for Levine Gabriëls led to the first run and a pitching change.
Tom de Blok took over, but he issued a walk to Joffrey Heus that brought in the second run for DSS.
Last Tuesday-evening De Blok was hit hard on his head by a throw to second base in a steal-situation and left the game dizzy.
Luckily, he sustained no injuries and was able to return to the mound again tonight.
With the bases still loaded, he struckout the next batter, then got a force play-grounder from Mitchel Dautzenberg.
On this grounder, Heus was forced out on second base, but Visser scored to make it a 4-3 score.
With runners now on second and third base, De Blok ended the inning and the game with another strikeout to earn a save.
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Narrow escape Amsterdam Pirates vs. DSS
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
League-leader L&D Amsterdam Pirates appeared to have a 'comfortable' 4-0 lead on Thursday-evening (July 30) vs. DSS when the ninth inning began.
However, the opponent from Haarlem then suddenly scored three runs.
But with two runners in scoring position, closer Tom de Blok closed the door with a strikeout to secure the win and complete the narrow escape.