In the first two innings, Amsterdam Pirates was held scoreless by starter Misja Harcksen.
The former pro retired the side in the first inning (two strikeouts), then got two baserunners (two walks) in the second at bat.
He then closed by striking out rookie Max Markies, who made his first defensive start for Amsterdam, as he played in leftfield.
Markies made his debut last Tuesday-evening, but then was the designated hitter.
In the third inning, Amsterdam opened the score.
With one out, Remco Draijer walked and Zerzinho Croes singled, then Nick Urbanus delivered a runscoring single.
With runners at the corners, the inning ended with a double play.
Amsterdam added its second run in the sixth at bat.
Nick Urbanus led off and was hit by a pitch.
He then scored all the way from first base on a double by Kenny Berkenbosch.
With one out, Berkenbosch moved to third base on a grounder.
With two outs, Rashid Gerard was walked intentionally.
Not only to set up a force play, but also to get to rookie Max Markies, who struckout to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Amsterdam took more distance by scoring two more runs.
Jan Evertse became the new pitcher for Twins and he walked lead-off hitter <>b>Niels van Weert.
He stole second base, then moved to third base on a grounder by Remco Draijer.
Hereafter, Zerzinho Croes homered to make it a 4-0 score.
For Croes, this was his first big league-homerun.
The infielder made his debut in 2010, playing in two games for Hoofddorp Pioniers.
Since then, Croes got 954 official at bats, but never homered.
In his 955th at bat, he did so for the first time.
After the homerun by Croes, Amsterdam got two more baserunners.
Nick Urbanus singled and advanced on a passed ball, then Kenny Berkenbosch was hit by a pitch.
A pitching change followed, as Shogo Nakashima took over.
The Japanese pitcher was then supported with an inning-ending double play.
...Zerzinho Croes...
...first homerun...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Amsterdam Pirates added its fifth run in the eighth inning, but then also left three runners behind.
Rodney Daal reached on an error and Rashid Gerard singled.
With one out, Nakashima got the bases loaded when he hit Niels van Weert with a pitch.
He then gave up a run when he walked Remco Draijer, which led to another pitching change.
Thijs Steenwijk took over and got a grounder, which resulted in Gerard being forced out at the plate.
Another grounder ended the at bat, meaning three runners were left behind.
In the meantime, Amsterdam-starter Robin Schel encountered no problems and threw eight solid innings.
The lefthander struckout seven hitters and gave up only five basehits.
Twins got into scoring position off of Schel only once and that happened in the first inning.
Jarreau Martina then led off with a single and advanced with one out on a single by Sam Kennelly.
With two outs, Martina stole third base.
Schel then closed the at bat by striking out Shurman Marlin and so, runners were left behind on first and third base.
In the third, Schel gave up a lead-off bunt-single to Brian Biezen, but he was caught stealing after a pick-off.
In the fourth, it was Sam Kennelly, who led off for Twins with a basehit.
This time, the Amsterdam-defense turned an inning-ending double play.
With two outs in the fifth, Nick Peels reached for Twins on an error, but he also was eliminated after a successful pick-off from Schel.
In the sixth, Brian Biezen led off for the second time with a single, but he was forced out moments later.
Schel retired the side three times.
He retired the last eight batters he faced, including four strikeouts in a row.
With a 5-0 lead, Daan Hendrix pitched the ninth inning for Amsterdam, but ran into problems with one out.
He then got the bases loaded when Ruar Verkerk, Sam Kennelly and Dennis De Quint all singled.
A sacrifice fly by Shurman Marlin and a single by Bob van der Meer brought in two runners, but the game then ended with a grounder.
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Amsterdam Pirates wins comfortably in Oosterhout
OOSTERHOUT (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates won 5-2 on Saturday-afternoon (May 5) against De Glaskoning Twins.
While the run-difference was only three, it was a convincing win.
Amsterdam led 5-0 in the ninth inning behind solid pitching.
Twins then scored its two runs in the ninth inning.
