L&D Amsterdam Pirates vs. Vaessen Pioniers
Starting pitchers Kevin Heijstek (Pirates) and Lars Huijer (Pioniers) both threw six innings.
While the pitch-counts of both Heijstek (83 pitches) and Huijer (90) can be labeled high, they didn't got much baserunners.
Heijstek gave up only three hits, while Huijer gave up two.
Both threw six scoreless innings, then the respective bullpens ran into problems.
Pioniers got a chance to open the score in the top of the second inning when it got the bases loaded off of Heijstek.
Kevin Dirksen led off with a single and moved on a grounder by Shurman Marlin.
Hereafter, Brian Raap walked and the runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Mark Smit.
A hit batter for Brennan Nijhof loaded the bases, but a nice defensive play by short stop Michael Duursma on a grounder by Glenn Bakker ended this scoring opportunity.
In the third inning, Pioniers got another runner in scoring position.
With one out, Mervin Gario singled and Kevin Dirksen walked with two outs, but they also were left behind.
...Winning coaches Angelo Clemensia, Theo Geerman & Dè Flanegin...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Heijstek retired the side in the fourth and fifth inning, then also got two quick outs in the sixth.
After having retired nine batters in a row, the righthander gave up a 2-out single in the sixth to Shurman Marlin.
He was replaced by pinch-runner Shavently Profar, but he was caught stealing moments later.
Amsterdam Pirates got its first runner in scoring position in the sixth inning.
In the second inning, Danny Rombley led off with walk, but was caught stealing after a pick-off.
In the third inning, Rashid Gerard singled, but stranded on first base.
After Huijer had retired the side in the fifth, he saw Pirates get into scoring position in the sixth.
Remco Draijer led off with a single and stole second base.
With one out, Jesse Aussems walked, but hereafter Rashid Gerard lined out to third baseman Mervin Gario.
With two outs, Draijer and Aussems were awarded the next base when Huijer committed a balk, but they stranded when a line drive by next batter Linoy Croes was caught by short stop Zerzinho Croes.
Pioniers then opened the score in the top of the seventh inning off of Pim Walsma.
Brian Raap led off with a single on his first delivery, then Brennan Nijhof singled through the middle with one out.
A throwing error on a force play-grounder by pinch-hitter Quintin De Cuba then led to the first run.
With two outs, Pioniers got the bases loaded when Mervin Gario was hit by a pitch, but then a force out ended the inning.
...Jonatan Isenia...
...winning pitcher...
(© Photo: Marco Stoovelaar) |
Amsterdam was retired in order in its seventh by new pitcher Maickel Rietel, but then came alongside in the next at bat.
Jesse Aussems led off with a double, then was replaced by pinch-runner Koen Nooij.
He moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Rashid Gerard, then scored the tying run when Linoy Croes hit a nice single just over first base.
Croes stole second base, then Jonatan Isenia was brought in as reliever with two outs.
The former pro hit Michael Duursma with a pitch.
With a 2-2 count on Gilmer Lampe, the righthander threw the ball into the ground.
The runners advanced, while catcher Brian Raap threw the ball to third base.
There, a close play followed, but Croes was ruled safe.
What followed was a heated argument from debuting Head Coach Dè Flanegin, who got close to being ejected in his first game.
The inning ended when Isenia closed with a strikeout.
Pioniers re-took the lead in the top of the ninth inning off of Daan Hendrix.
He had entered the game in the previous inning with runners on first and second base and one out, then was supported with a nice double play.
In the ninth, Brennan Nijhof led off with a single.
Hereafter, Quintin De Cuba drove the ball into rightfield for a single.
That brought Nijhof to third base, but he was able to score when an error near second base followed.
With De Cuba on second base and one out, a force play was set up by walking Mervin Gario intentionally.
However, the runners then advanced on a wild pich, then another intentional walk followed for Austin Weymouth.
Pioniers then added an insurance run when De Cuba scored on a force play-grounder by Kevin Dirksen.
A grounder ended the at bat, but Pioniers was now leading 3-1.
Amsterdam ended up a few inches short of coming alongside in the bottom of the ninth off of closer Sedley Karel.
He walked Danny Rombley, who then advanced on grounders by Remco Draijer and Patrick Bok.
Next batter Max Clarijs then walked on four pitches, making him the tying run on first base.
Hereafter, Rashid Gerard drove an 1-2 pitch down the rightfield-line for an apparent double.
Both runners would surely have scored, but the ball dropped at the wrong side of the foul-line.
And so, the runners returned to their base and Gerard returned to the batter's box.
The next pitch ended in a game-ending groundout.
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Pioniers opens with win in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Vaessen Pioniers broke an 1-1 tie in the top of the ninth ining on Thursday-evening (April 14) to win the opening-game of the new season 3-1 against L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
With that, Dè Flanegin made his debut as Head Coach in the Dutch big league with a victory.
Opening Night Season 2016.