Vaessen Pioniers vs. L&D Amsterdam Pirates
Before the game, Pioniers opened its home season and that traditionally involves youth players in Hoofddorp.
Young players from both Pioniers and Pirates accompanied the main squad-players onto the field during the introductions.
Hereafter, Alex Schwengle, the Minister of Sports of the Government of Aruba, threw the ceremonial first pitch.
Both starting pitchers had a good outing this afternoon and that led to a pitching-duel and an 1-1 score after six complete innings.
Amsterdam Pirates then rallied for five runs in the top of the seventh inning to decide the game.
Pioniers-starter Chris Pfau held Amsterdam hitless in the first five innings!
The American lefthander retired the side in the first and second at bat (three strikeouts).
He walked lead-off hitter Rashid Gerard in the third inning, who then advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a grounder, but stranded on third base.
...Aruban Minister Alex Schwengle throws the ceremonial first pitch...
...Coaches and players of Pioniers look on, as are youth-players...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Without hitting a basehit, Pirates opened the score in the top of the fourth inning.
Pfau walked lead-off hitter Michael Duursma.
After a first pick-off at first base, Pfau made another pick-off attempt to first baseman Shurman Marlin, but that was ruled a balk.
It was reported that Marlin had come off of his base towards the mound when the pick-off was made.
Pioniers' Head Coach Dè Flanegin argued the decision.
An umpiring conference followed, but the call was left standing and with that Duursma was awarded second base.
Pioniers filed a protest against the umpire's decision.
Moments later, Duursma advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Gilmer Lampe, then scored on a following grounder to first base by Danny Rombley.
Marlin threw the ball to catcher Quintin De Cuba, but Duursma slid in head first to beat the throw.
Amsterdam-starter Kyle Ward struckout five of the first eight batters he faced.
He gave up an one-out double to Kevin Dirksen in the second inning, but he stranded on second base.
In the third, he walked Brennan Nijhof and gave up a single to Zerzinho Croes, but an inning-ending double play followed.
Pioniers came alongside in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Austin Weymouth and Quintin De Cuba led off with singles, but Ward followed with two strikeouts.
He then gave up a runscoring single to Brian Raap that tied the score.
Two scoreless innings followed, but Pioniers got another runner in scoring position in the sixth.
Ward gave up a lead-off single to Quintin De Cuba, then Shurman Marlin singled with one out.
After a flyout accounted for the second out, Ward was relieved by Tom de Blok, who saw the inning end with a flyout.
And with that, the score remained tied at 1-1.
...Koen Nooij homered for Amsterdam...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Amsterdam Pirates then rallied for five runs in the seventh inning on only two hits.
But these hits didn't bring in the runs!
Chris Pfau had given up his first basehit in the sixth inning when Gilmer Lampe singled with one out, but he ran into problems in this at bat.
The lefthander walked lead-off hitter Remco Draijer, then gave up a single to Kenny Berkenbosch and a bunt-single to Rashid Gerard that loaded the bases.
With one out, Pirates took a 2-1 lead on a passed ball, then a force play was created by walking Koen Nooij intentionally.
That didn't work, as Pfau followed with a normal walk for Nick Urbanus, which led to another run and a pitching change.
Jonah Van Bemmelen took over, but he saw two more runs being scored when he hit Michael Duursma with a pitch and a passed ball followed moments later.
He then walked Gilmer Lampe and was replaced by Maickel Rietel.
He faced Danny Rombley, who delivered a sacrifice fly that made it 6-1 in favor of Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam-squad added another run in the eighth when Koen Nooij homered with two outs.
Next batter Nick Urbanus doubled, which brought Michael Duursma into the batter's box.
One of the deliveries by Rietel sailed high inside over the head of Duursma, which led to a reaction from Amsterdam's Head Coach Charles Urbanus.
,,I stand up for my players'', Urbanus reacted afterwards.
The situation led to the benches emptying on the field and some pushing here and there.
After some five minutes, the players returned to their dug-outs and the umpiring crew got together with both Head Coaches.
No one was ejected and the game continued.
Trailing 7-1, Pioniers got one run back in the bottom of the eighth inning, but left three runners behind.
De Blok walked Quintin De Cuba, then gave up a single to Kevin Dirksen, which was followed by a sacrifice fly by Shurman Marlin.
After Dirksen had advanced to second base on a passed ball, Brian Raap walked.
Daan Hendrix then took over for De Blok.
He began with a strikeout, then also struckout next batter Glenn Bakker, but he reached on a passed ball that loaded the bases.
A grounder then ended the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth, Hendrix gave up a lead-off double to Mervin Gario, but hereafter, three groundouts ended the game.
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Amsterdam Pirates rallies to victory in seventh inning
HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates broke an 1-1 tie with a 5-run rally in the seventh inning to win 7-2 against Vaessen Pioniers on Sunday (April 17), while being outhit 10-6.
The series began on Thursday with a 3-1 win for Pioniers, then Saturday's game was cancelled due to field conditions.
This game will be made up on Tuesday-evening in Amsterdam.
Opening Weekend Season 2016.