L&D Amsterdam Pirates vs. Kinheim
For the first time this season, Kyle Ward was named starting pitcher for the opening game of a 3-game series.
So far, the lefthander had started the second games.
Kevin Heijstek, who has been the starter in the openers, now will start Game 2 coming Saturday.
The switch in the rotation has to do with a look ahead to the upcoming European Champions Cup-tournament, which begins May 31 in Italy and San Marino.
Amsterdam Pirates and Neptunus will be the Dutch representatives in the event.
Ward began the game with a strikeout, then gave up a single to Julio Hernandez.
That was followed by a 2-run homerun by Kevin Moesquit, which ended Amsterdam's scoreless streak of 25 2/3 innings.
However, it also were to be the lone runs Kinheim scored tonight, as it was held scoreless in the next six at bats.
After Moesquit's homerun, a flyout followed, then Victor Draijer walked in his first appearance this season for Kinheim.
He stole second base, but Ward then closed with a strikeout.
The lefthander then retired the side in the next four innings!
He went on to go the distance and became the third 4-game winner in the Pirates-staff.
After stranding two runners in the first inning, Amsterdam came alongside in the second at bat off of Luis Figuera Roman.
The Venezuelan righthander began with a walk for Linoy Croes, who was then awarded second base on a balk and advanced on a grounder.
Another grounder followed, then next batter Jesse Aussems walked after a good 12-pitch at bat.
Before walking, he fouled off six consecutive pitches after already having fouled off an earlier pitch.
Moments later, Aussems stole second, while Croes stole the plate.
A throwing error towards second base enabled Aussems to move to third base and he then scored the tying run when Nick Urbanus doubled.
That hit followed a dropped foul ball, which would have been the third out.
In the next three innings, Figuera held Amsterdam scoreless, while giving up three basehits.
After having retired 13 batters in a row, Kyle Ward gave up a lead-off single to Jasper Keijzer in the sixth inning, but hereafter, Julio Hernandez grounded into a double play.
Amsterdam then took the lead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Only one run was earned, as two errors contributed to the other two.
With one out, the bases got loaded when Linoy Croes reached on an error, Patrick Bok walked and Rashid Gerard singled.
Hereafter, Nick Veltkamp took over the pitching, but he was greeted with a 2-run single by pinch-hitter Kenny Berkenbosch that put Pirates ahead, 4-2.
After Gerard was caught stealing at third base, Nick Urbanus walked, then another run was scored when Michael Duursma reached on an error.
After completion of the inning, Veltkamp was ejected for making some remarks.
In the top of the seventh inning, the Amsterdam-defense turned a double play, then the offense produced seven runs in the bottom half of the at bat.
Scott Ronnenbergh took over the Kinheim-pitching and walked lead-off hitter Remco Draijer.
The lefthander followed with two strikeouts, but then got the bases loaded when he also walked Patrick Bok and Rashid Gerard.
A following walk for Max Clarijs led to a run, but also a pitching change.
Reggie Bomberg took over, but he also began with a (runscoring) walk for Nick Urbanus.
Hereafter, the scoring went very quickly.
Michael Duursma hit a 2-run single and Gilmer Lampe followed with a 2-run double.
Remco Draijer added a runscoring single, which was a walk-off hit, as it gave Amsterdam a 12-2 win to end the game.
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Amsterdam Pirates secures spot in Play-Offs with 7-inning win against Kinheim
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates rallied for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on Thursday-evening (May 19) to register a 12-2, 7-inning, mercy-rule victory against Kinheim.
With this, Amsterdam registered its 15th consecutive victory and became the first team to secure itself of a spot in the Play-Offs, as it will finish in either first or second place in the first half of the season.
Eight minutes later, Curaçao Neptunus won its game against UVV to become the second team to reach the Play-Offs.
Starting next Thursday, Amsterdam and Neptunus will meet in a 3-game series to decide first and second place.
Nick Veltkamp (Kinheim) ejected after completion bottom 6th inning by HP Umpire Stenar van Groningen Schinkel for making remarks.