Amsterdam Pirates decided the game early, thanks to a 6-run rally in the first inning.
The at bat lasted some 20 minutes, but the team then had to wait one hour and 42 minutes whether or not the lead could be expanded or that the game would be cancelled due to rain.
With one out in the bottom of the first inning, the game was interrupted, but resumed after the long delay.
Amsterdam added four more runs and ended the game via the mercy-rule.
In the top of the first inning, ten batters stepped up to the plate.
They collected six basehits and scored six runs, which not only led to an early comfortable lead, but also to an early pitching change.
Remco Draijer and Zerzinho Croes led off the game with singles off of starter Ian Delemarre.
Moments later, the righthander made a throwing error during a pick-off at second base, which enabled both runners to advance.
They both scored when Nick Urbanus followed with a single.
Hereafter, Delemarre walked Gilmer Lampe and gave up a runscoring double to Danny Rombley, who now leads the league with 33 runs batted in.
The scoring continued thanks to a runscoring grounder by Kenny Berkenbosch and an RBI-single by Patrick Bok.
The latter advanced on a wild pitch and a grounder by Rashid Gerard, then scored the sixth run in the inning on a 2-out single by Jesse Aussems, the ninth batter in the at bat.
That was followed by a pitching change.
Giovanni Tensen took over and struckout Draijer, but HCAW faced an early big deficit.
In the bottom of the first inning, Amsterdam-starter Robin Schel got a lead-off grounder from Delano Selassa.
Moments later, the umpiring crew halted the game due to some heavy rain.
The game had started under fine weather conditions, but rain-clouds approached during the first at bat.
A long delay followed, but it was possible to resume the game and complete it.
When the game resumed after one hour and 42 minutes, Schel returned to the mound, despite the long delay.
A flyout then accounted for the second out, but Kevin Dirksen followed with an infield-hit.
Hereafter, Rossini Frolijk (who today celebrated his 25th birthday) entered the game as pinch-hitter for Vince Rooi, who had started the game as designated hitter.
According to the Official Game Rules - 5.11 (a)(2) - 'the designated hitter named in the starting line-up must come to bat at least one time, unless the opposing club changes pitchers'.
For the Dutch big league, this rule has an addition, which makes it possible to replace a starting DH before his first turn at bat.
That is 'when such player gets injured or becomes sick and is not able to continue the game, but that has to be confirmed by the umpire'.
Rooi has been sidelined with a shoulder-injury and played his last game on June 25.
Out of precaution, he didn't play in the first two games of HCAW against Amsterdam Pirates on Thursday and Saturday, but today started again.
Rooi's pinch-hitter Frolijk flied out to end the inning.
Amsterdam was retired in order by Tensen in the second inning and left two runners behind in the third.
HCAW got its lead-off hitter on base in its second and third at bat.
In the second, Rachid Engelhardt led off with a single, but was forced out.
In the third, Boyd Tuhumury singled, but a double play followed.
Amsterdam then added three more runs with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
With one out, Zerzinho Croes singled and moved on a wild pitch and a grounder.
The bases then got loaded when Giovanni Tensen walked Gilmer Lampe and Danny Rombley.
When he also walked next batter Kenny Berkenbosch, it led to another run and a pitching change.
Steven van Groningen took over, but he was greeted with a 2-run single by Patrick Bok that lifted the lead to 9-0.
Amsterdam reached the 10-run difference in the top of the sixth inning, which also saw a rare double play.
Sedley Karel started the inning as reliever for HCAW, but he got the bases loaded quickly.
Nick Urbanus led off with a single, Gilmer Lampe walked and Danny Rombley also singled.
Next batter Kenny Berkenbosch then grounded to third baseman Delano Selassa.
Instead of throwing the ball to the catcher for a force out at the plate, Selassa first stepped on third base to force out the runner coming from second base (Lampe) and then threw the ball to catcher Rowan van Hoek.
With that, the force play was lifted and Van Hoek had to tag out the sliding Urbanus to complete the double play, as it had now become a reversed double play.
With Berkenbosch on first base and Rombley on second base, the two moved on a wild pitch.
Rombley then scored the tenth Amsterdam-run when Patrick Bok reached on an error.
HCAW got its first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With one out, Roelie Henrique walked, then Kevin Dirksen singled.
As an outfield-error followed, Henrique was able to reach third base.
Robin Schel followed with a strikeout and a force out on second base ended the at bat.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Dennis Burgersdijk relieved Schel.
The righthander got three consecutive outs, including two strikeouts, to end the game.
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Amsterdam Pirates shuts out HCAW after long rain-delay
BUSSUM (Neth.) -
League-leader L&D Amsterdam Pirates won 10-0 against HCAW on a rainy Sunday-afternoon (July 22) to complete a 3-game sweep.
Amsterdam opened on Thursday with a 2-0 shutout, then recorded a 10-1 win on Saturday in what was the final big league-game of umpire Fred van Groningen Schinkel, who completed an impressive 46-season career at the highest level.
1:42 hrs. rain-delay in bottom 1st inning with one out, no baserunners and Amsterdam leading 6-0.