Hoofddorp Pioniers opened the score in the top of the first inning off of Diegomar Markwell.
The lefthander got two quick outs, but then gave up a homerun to Dudley Leonora.
Markwell closed with his second strikeout in the inning.
It was the second time this season that Markwell gave up a homerun in four starts.
He gave up his first to Kalian Sams in the season-opener of Neptunus against L&D Amsterdam Pirates.
The last time that Markwell gave up two homeruns in one season was in 2013.
In the previous three seasons, the lefthander gave up only one homerun each year.
The Hoofddorp-lead was shortlived, as Neptunus reacted with two runs in its first at bat off of Chris Pfau.
In the previous series this season, the American lefthander had been the Game 2-starter for Pioniers and was righthander Lars Huijer the starter in the opening games.
Pioniers' Head Coach Dè Flanegin changed his rotation for this series.
He moved Pfau to the first game and named Huijer as starter for the second game coming Saturday.
Stijn van der Meer led off the first inning for Neptunus with a walk and got into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Benjamin Dille.
He then scored then tying run when Christian Diaz followed with a single.
Hereafter, Dwayne Kemp doubled to bring in Diaz and give Neptunus a 2-1 lead.
Gianison Boekhoudt added another single and stole second base, but Neptunus left runners behind on second and third base when Pfau closed the inning with two strikeouts.
Markwell retired the side in the second and third inning, while Pfau was supported with a double play in the second inning.
With dark rainclouds approaching from the south, Neptunus added two runs in the third at bat.
With one out, Benjamin Dille doubled and advanced on an outfield-error, then scored on a single by Dwayne Kemp.
The latter was then caught stealing after a pick-off which was costly, as Gianison Boekhoudt followed with a double.
He then scored on a single by Urving Kemp.
Trailing 4-1, Pioniers saw Quintin De Cuba and Jeffrey Arends both hit a single with two outs in the top of the fourth.
They stranded, as Diegomar Markwell closed with his third strikeout of the evening.
...While the rainclouds were approaching, the...
...field was sprinkled after the game...
(© Photo: Judith de Heide) |
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Neptunus scored its next run.
Ruar Verkerk led off with a walk, moved on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Stijn van der Meer.
The Pioniers-defense then turned a double play, but the team trailed 5-1.
Pioniers got a chance to do something back in the top of the fifth inning.
Gianni Frolijk led off with a double.
After he had moved on a flyout, Joey Eeman walked, but moments later, the rookie was suprised by a pick-off from Markwell and was eliminated.
Brennan Nijhof then also walked, but Pioniers left two runners behind.
Pioniers got one run back in the top of the sixth.
Dudley Leonora and Quintin De Cuba led off with singles, which led to runners on first and third base.
Jeffrey Arends then grounded into a double play, but that also brought in Leonora.
Chris Pfau retired the side in the fifth and sixth inning, but gave up another run in the seventh.
Lead-off hitter Shaldimar Daantji then reached on an error and scored on a 2-out double by Christian Diaz.
Hereafter, Glenn Wassink took over the pitching and ended the ining with a strikeout.
After Neptunus left a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, Pioniers got one final chance in the top of the ninth.
With one out, Jeffrey Arends walked, but a flyout and groundout then ended the inning and the game.
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Neptunus encounters no problems in opener against Pioniers
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus took sole possession of third place by winning 6-2 on Thursday-evening (May 11) in the series-opener against Hoofddorp Pioniers.
Before tonight, the two teams shared third place.
