L&D Amsterdam Pirates vs. Curaçao Neptunus
As mentioned, three players of each team were suspended, Dwayne Kemp, Raily Legito and Rien Vernooij for Neptunus and Linoy Croes, Michael Duursma and Gilmer Lampe of Amsterdam Pirates.
With that, the Head Coaches had to adjust their starting line-ups.
Benjamin Dille, who is the regular second baseman of Neptunus, now played at short stop, which is Kemp's position.
Daniel Fernandes replaced Dille at second base.
Legito's position at third base was now being filled by Urving Kemp, who was normally used as leftfielder, but Randolph Oduber is playing there since he arrived in Rotterdam.
Vernooij has played at first and third base, but also has been used as designated hitter.
Steven Wharwood was today's DH for Neptunus, while Gianison Boekhoudt (who also has been used as DH) again played at first base.
As Shadrach Meulens replaced the injured Oduber during today's game, Neptunus mostly had pitchers left on the bench.
Amsterdam Pirates also primarily had pitchers in the dug-out as replacement players.
Nick Urbanus moved from second base to short stop to fill in for Duursma, while Max Clarijs played at second base.
Koen Nooij started in leftfield, which is Lampe's position.
Croes plays as DH and in the outfield for Amsterdam and Kenny Berkenbosch initially was listed as designated hitter, while a player from its Rookie League-team was added to play at third base.
However, that player was not yet listed on the active roster, making him ineligible to play.
Twenty minutes before the game started, the startig line-up was changed and Berkenbosch moved to third base.
It was then decided that no DH was to be used, meaning the pitchers had to bat themselves today.
Regular third baseman Jesse Aussems (he shares the position with catcher Rashid Gerard) was not with the team today, due to family circumstances.
Another fill-in today was starting pitcher Pim Walsma, who made his first start of the season.
Lefthander Kyle Ward missed his start in this series due to an irritated elbow.
Despite all these changes, there were some nice defensive plays.
Only one run was scored in today's game.
That was scored in the second inning by Neptunus, but it was Amsterdam Pirates (despite its unique line-up) that got the most chances to do some scoring, but failed to do so.
Neptunus got into scoring position right away in the top of the first inning when Randolph Oduber led off with a walk and stole second base.
But shortly after reaching second base, the former pro suddenly reached to his leg and moments later, he left the game.
It was announced that he had a cramp and was replaced just after precaution.
Shadrach Meulens was inserted as pinch-runner and Neptunus got a second baserunner when Benjamin Dille was also walked by starting pitcher Pim Walsma.
Hereafter, the Amsterdam-defense came close to making a triple play.
Christian Diaz lined out to first baseman Patrick Bok, who eliminated runner Dille, then threw the ball to short stop Nick Urbanus, but Meulens was just back in time at second base.
A strikeout ended the at bat.
In the bottom of the first inning, Amsterdam also got two baserunners.
With one out, Neptunus-starter Kenny Van Den Branden hit Remco Draijer with a pitch.
With two outs, the Belgian righthander also hit Kenny Berkenbosch with a pitch.
On Friday-evening, it were two hit batters that led to arguments and two ejections.
It didn't come that far today, as nothing happened.
With the two runners on base, a flyout ended the inning.
...Amsterdam Short Stop Nick Urbanus made...
...two great defensive plays...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Neptunus then opened the score in the top of the second inning.
Dashenko Ricardo led off with a double, then advanced on an one-out single by Daniel Fernandes.
Moments later, Ricardo scored on a sacrifice fly by Shaldimar Daantji.
Amsterdam left another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the second inning.
With one out, Koen Nooij singled.
With two outs, Pim Walsma stepped into the batter's box.
He turned and put down a perfect bunt-single, reaching first base safely!
This was Walsma's first big league-at bat since 2009.
But the two runners were left behind.
Back on the mound, Walsma retired the side in the third inning, which began with a great defensive play by short stop Nick Urbanus.
In the fourth, Amsterdam turned a double play when third baseman Kenny Berkenbosch caught a line drive.
Kevin Kelly took over the Neptunian pitching in the fourth and retired the side, as he also did in the fifth inning.
Walsma was relieved by Daan Hendrix in the top of the fifth.
Neptunus came close to its second run in the sixth at bat.
With two outs and Dashenko Ricardo (fielder's choice) on first base, next batter Steven Wharwood singled.
Hereafter, Daniel Fernandes singled into leftfield.
Ricardo, who also scored the first run, was waved home.
Leftfielder Koen Nooij made a nice throw to catcher Rashid Gerard.
A close play at the plate followed, but Gerard tagged out Ricardo just before the plate and Home Plate Umpire René Ras made the correct call by ruling him out.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Berry van Driel became the new pitcher for Neptunus.
He gave up a lead-off single to Danny Rombley, but then retired the next three batters.
...Daniel Fernandes went 3-for-4...
...for Neptunus...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the top of the seventh inning, Hendrix retired the side.
The at bat began with a nice running catch by centerfielder Remco Draijer on a drive by Shaldimar Daantji.
Amsterdam Pirates then got a chance of turning the game its way in the bottom of the seventh inning off of new pitcher Bayron Cornelisse.
While having the possibility for a squeeze several times, it was not opted to use this.
Cornelisse was greeted with a lead-off triple by Koen Nooij.
Hereafter, Max Clarijs walked.
Pitcher Daan Hendrix then became the next batter and he had just had his first big league at bat in the fifth inning.
His bunt-attempt ended in a flyout, but then Amsterdam got the bases loaded with one out when Nick Urbanus walked.
And so, Pirates had the bases loaded with only one out.
But hereafter, Nooij was forced out at the plate on a grounder towards Cornelisse by Remco Draijer.
That kept the bases loaded, but a flyout ended the inning.
In the top of the eighth inning, Robin Schel became Amsterdam's third pitcher and retired the side.
Amsterdam then got another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the eighth off of closer Loek van Mil.
The former pro began with a strikeout, but then gave up a single to Rashid Gerard.
Another strikeout followed, but then Koen Nooij (who was 3-for-4) also singled, resulting in runners on second and third base.
This time, it was Neptunus that had to take a decision.
With first base open and pitcher Robin Schel (his only other at bat dates back to 2012) on deck, it was expected that an intentional walk would followed to create a force play.
Instead, it was opted to pitch to next batter Max Clarijs, which could have been costly, as a basehit might have bring in both runners.
But Van Mil closed the inning with his third strikeout.
In the top of the ninth inning, Neptunus got runners on first and second base with two outs when Daniel Fernandes (who was 3-for-4) and Shaldimar Daantji singled.
Hereafter, Urbanus made another great defensive play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Van Mil walked Remco Draijer with two outs, but hereafter, a grounder ended the game.
|
Neptunus moves into first place with minimal win
AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus won only 1-0 on Saturday (May 28) against L&D Amsterdam Pirates to move into first place for the first time since April 19.
On that date, both teams shared first place, two days later Amsterdam took sole possession of the leader's spot until today.
