Amsterdam Pirates opened the score in the top of the first inning, but trailed 4-1 shortly thereafter.
Trailing 5-1, Amsterdam came alongside by scoring four runs in the fifth and sixth inning combined, then decided the game with a 4-run rally in the ninth inning.
Kevin Kelly started today for Neptunus.
Initially, it was planned that he would start the third game on Sunday, but he was moved to Saturday when intended starter Orlando Yntema was bothered with some stomach-pains earlier in the week.
Therefore, Yntema was removed from the rotation, Kelly was moved to the second game and no starter was announced for the third match-up.
That might be Yntema when he has recovered in time.
In the first inning, Kelly walked lead-off hitter Remco Draijer, who then advanced on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice-grounder by Zerzinho Croes.
When the latter was forced out on a grounder by Nick Urbanus, Draijer scored the first run.
With two outs, the bases got loaded when Gilmer Lampe and Kenny Berkenbosch also walked, but Amsterdam left three runners behind.
In the bottom of the first inning, Neptunus scored four unearned runs off of Amsterdam-starter Kevin Heijstek.
The righthander gave up five hits, but there also was a costly error.
With one out, Benjamin Dille reached on a bunt-single, then reached second base safely when an error was made on a possible double play-grounder by Christian Diaz.
A flyout followed, which would have been the third oud.
With two outs, Gianison Boekhoudt delivered a 2-run double.
After Rien Vernooij singled, Ruar Verkerk and Greg Muller followed with runscoring singles to make it 4-1 in favor of the home team.
Last Thursday, Verkerk was hit on his head by a bad-hop line drive off the bat of Kalian Sams, but he returned in the line-up today.
Kevin Kelly retired the side in the second and third inning.
The righthander gave up a lead-off double to Gilmer Lampe in the fourth, but then picked him off second base.
Neptunus also was held scoreless in the second and third at bat.
Kevin Heijstek was supported with a double play in the second, then retired the side in third.
Neptunus added a run in the bottom of the fourth.
With two outs, Shaldimar Daatji (who had reached on a fielder's choice) stole second base and scored on a single by Benjamin Dille to make it a 5-1 score.
The game started to turn the Amsterdam-way from the fifth inning on.
With one out, Remco Draijer walked, advanced on a passed ball, then moved to third base with two outs on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Nick Urbanus.
After Neptunus was retired in order in its fifth at bat, Amsterdam rallied for three runs in the sixth to come alongside.
With a 5-1 lead, rookie Stefan Iannelli (who made his debut) took over the pitching from Kelly, but ran into problems.
He walked Gilmer Lampe and gave up a single to Kenny Berkenbosch, which led to runners at the corners.
Lampe then scored on a force play-grounder by Linoy Croes to narrow the deficit to 5-3.
Hereafter, Iannelli got the bases loaded when he walked Rashid Gerard and Jesse Aussems, which led to a pitching change.
Veteran Berry van Driel took over, but also encountered some problems.
He saw Croes score on a sacrifice fly by Remco Draijer, then got the bases loaded again when he walked Zerzinho Croes.
Van Driel then uncorked a wild pitch that enabled pinch-runner Norbert Jongerius (who ran for Gerard) to score the tying run.
Two runners were left behind, but it was a new ballgame.
In the bottom of the sixth, lefthander Nick Veltkamp became the new pitcher for Amsterdam.
He walked lead-off hitter Ruar Verkerk, who then advanced on a sacrifice bunt, but Veltkamp closed with two strikeouts.
Amsterdam Pirates got its first two batters on base in the seventh, but was unable to break the tie.
Kalian Sams walked and Gilmer Lampe reached on a bunt-single, but this time, Neptunus turned a double play and a grounder ended the at bat.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Neptunus got a chance to re-take the lead when it got the bases loaded with two outs.
Dwayne Kemp then singled and stole second and third base.
The bases got loaded when Nick Veltkamp walked Gianison Boekhoudt and Rien Vernooij, but the three runners were left behind when Veltkamp again closed with a strikeout.
Amsterdam then decided the game with a 4-run rally in the top of the ninth inning.
With one out, Gilmer Lampe singled and Kenny Berkenbosch walked.
That marked the end for Berry van Driel, who was relieved by former pro Misja Harcksen.
The righthander saw the two runners advance on a passed ball, then walked Linoy Croes intentionally to set up a force play.
Harcksen then hit next batter Max Clarijs with a pitch, which gave Amsterdam a 6-5 lead.
Jesse Aussems followed with a force play-grounder.
This could have end in a force out at the plate, but an error was made.
With that, Berkenbosch scored and the bases remained loaded.
Hereafter, singles by Remco Draijer and Zerzinho Croes lifted the lead to 9-5 and that led to the next pitching change.
Rightfielder Christian Diaz was called to the mound to stop the rally and he was the most successful pitcher for Neptunus today.
He began with a strikeout, then caught a foul pop-fly to end the inning, but Neptunus trailed 9-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs, Neptunus got one (unearned) run back, but also left three runners behind.
Reliever Daan Hendrix, who had come on during the eighth, got the bases loaded with two outs when Dwayne Kemp singled, Gianison Boekhoudt walked and Rien Vernooij also singled.
A run was then scored when Ruar Verkerk reached on an error, but with the bases still loaded, Hendrix ended the game with a strikeout.
|
Pirates erases deficit and downs Neptunus in 9th
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates trailed 4-1 after the first inning and 5-1 after four at bats on Saturday (April 22) against Curaçao Neptunus, but erased the deficit, came alongside and struck with four runs in the ninth to win 9-6.
Last Thursday, Amsterdam opened the series with a 5-1 victory.
Stefan Iannelli (Neptunus) makes his big league-debut.