(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo courtesy of Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks)
  Second victory for Van den Hurk
Nederlands
 KAGOSHIMA (Japan) -
Dutch righthander Rick van den Hurk has won his second game of the season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Last Saturday (April 9), he was the starting pitcher for Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in the home game against ORIX Buffaloes.
The game, which was played in Kagoshima, was won 13-1.
...Rick van den Hurk...
...second victory for Fukuoka...
(© Photo courtesy of Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) |
Van den Hurk earned his first victory a week earlier, on Saturday, April 2 when he threw seven innings against Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
His first start of the season, on Mach 26, ended in a 3-3 tie in 12 innings.
Last Saturday, Van den Hurk threw seven innings and struckout five batters, while giving up only four basehits.
He walked none.
The Hawks initially trailed 1-0 when the Buffaloes scored in the top of the third inning.
The Hawks came alongside in its third at bat on a homerun by Shuhei Fukuda, then broke the 1-1 tie in the fourth inning by scoring four runs.
Hereafter, three runs added in both the fifth and sixth inning.
The Hawks collected 14 basehits, including four by third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda, who homered in the sixth inning.
First baseman Seiichi Uchikawa scored four runs.
Catcher Hiroaki Takaya also homered for the Hawks.
Last year, Van den Hurk was 9-0 in his first season in Japan, playing for the Hawks, which then won the Championship-title.
Currently, the Hawks are in fourth place in the Pacific League.
Curaçao-born outfielder Wladimir Balentien is currently hitting .333 (9-for-27), including four doubles and two homeruns.
Balentien scored six runs and batted in three.
Through Tuesday, Balentien has played in seven games for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, which is currently in fifth place in the Centrals League.
(April 12)
Related Article:
 Van den Hurk earns 1st win; Balentien plays 1st game. (April 4, 2016)
First start Van den Hurk ends in tie. (March 31, 2016)
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