www.grand-slam.nl	International Baseball
	Headlines

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2018 by Marco Stoovelaar

(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Freek Bouw/Phrake Photography & Henk Seppen) Spring Training-debut Jansen; Simmons returns; Schoop homers again Nederlands PHOENIX / SALT RIVER PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY / SCOTTSDALE / SURPRISE, Arizona / JUPITER / TAMPA / FORT MYERS / WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (USA) - On Thursday (March 15), seven Dutch players came into action during Spring Training. Kenley Jansen threw his first inning for Los Angeles Dodgers, while Andrelton Simmons played again for Los Angeles Angels. Jonathan Schoop hit his fifth homerun for Baltimore Orioles, his third in four days. Also playing on Thursday were Xander Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Spencer Kieboom and Jurickson Profar. (March 15) Related Articles: Jonathan Schoop helps Baltimore to win with 4th homerun. (March 14) Didi Gregorius hits third homerun in Spring Training. (March 13) Sharlon Schoop in Spring Training; Italian Gasparini makes debut. (March 12) Gregorius HRs; Sicnarf Loopstok, Jiandido Tromp in action. (March 11) Schoop hits 2nd Spring Training-HR; Pieters doubles. (March 10) Spring Training-debut Kenley Jansen postponed. (March 9) Gregorius homers, Simmons injured in Spring Training. (March 8) 3 Hits & 2 Runs by Dutch players in Spring Training. (March 7) Xander Bogaerts homers for Boston. (March 6) Only two Dutch players in Spring Training-action on Monday. (March 5) Productive day Dutch players in League Spring Training. (March 4) Another Kieboom in Major League Spring Training. (March 3) Didi Gregorius collects three hits in Spring Training-game. (March 2) Spencer Kieboom, Chadwick Tromp deliver game-winning hits. (March 1) Andrelton Simmons plays in first Spring Training-game. (February 28) Seattle adds Aruban Eugene Helder for Spring Training-game. (February 27) Jonathan Schoop homers for Baltimore. (February 26) Spencer Kieboom collects 2 basehits for Washington. (February 25) Baltimore adds 2 Curaçao-players for Spring Training-game. (February 24) First Dutch players in action in Major League Spring Training. (February 23) Major League Spring Training-season opens. (February 21)

...Kenley Jansen throws first inning... (© Photo: Freek Bouw/Phrake Photography) At Phoenix, Los Angeles Dodgers played at home against Kansas City Royals and lost 14-8. Kansas City collected 19 basehits, including three by first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, who homered twice and batted in five runs. Frank Schwindel, who replaced O'Hearn at first base in the bottom of the fifth inning, also hit two homeruns and batted in four runs! It was a homerun-rich contest, as Nick Dini also homered for Kansas City, while Yasmani Grandal, Corey Seager and Edwin Rios homered for Los Angeles. Kansas City opened the score with a 6-run rally in the top of the first inning. All runs were credited to lefthanded starting pitcher Rich Hill, who was relieved after only 1/3 inning in which he gave up seven basehits. Kenley Jansen made his first appearance during this Spring Training for the Dodgers. He was scheduled to throw last week, but that fell through when he had a tightness in his right hamstring. With Kansas City leading 8-3, Jansen took the mound in the top of the third inning and did very well, as he retired the side. He struckout lead-off hitter Ramon Torres, then got a pop-up from next hitter Jon Jay, which was followed by a flyout from Alex Gordon. It was Jansen's lone inning today as he was relieved by Josh Fields in the top of the fourth.

...Andrelton Simmons in action for the Netherlands... ...during the 2017 World Baseball Classic... (© Photo: Henk Seppen) At Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community/Scottsdale, a split-squad of Los Angeles Angels visited Colorado Rockies and won 10-8. The Angels collected 14 basehits, including two by Andrelton Simmons, who returned to action. Trailing 2-1, Los Angeles scored four runs in the top of the fourth inning, but then Colorado answered with a 5-run rally in the bottom of the fourth. Los Angeles came alongside by scoring a run in the fifth and sixth inning, but the Rockies re-took the lead in its sixth. In the top of the ninth, Los Angeles scored three runs to turn the game its way after all. Andrelton Simmons started as short stop, was 2-for-4, including a double, scored a run and batted in another. A week ago, he left a game with a shoulder-injury and didn't play since. In the top of the second inning, Albert Pujols led off for the Angels with a single. With two outs, Simmons also singled, then the two runners were left behind. With Colorado leading 2-1, Zack Cozart walked with two outs for Los Angeles in the top of the fourth. He then scored the tying run when Simmons followed with a double. Hereafter, the Angels took the lead when next hitters Jefry Marte and Martin Maldonado hit back-to-back homeruns. Simmons grounded out in the fifth inning and hit a force play-grounder in the seventh, resulting in an out at second base, After reaching first base, Simmons was replaced by pinch-runner Roberto Baldoquin, who became the new short stop in the bottom of the seventh. In the top of the ninth, Baldoquin hit a 3-run homerun that gave Los Angeles the win.

At Surprise, Texas Rangers played at home against Milwaukee Brewers and won 6-5. Texas led 5-0 after five innings, then Milwaukee scored a run in the top of the sixth and came alongside by scoring four runs in the ninth inning. In the bottom of the ninth, Texas scored the winning run. Jurickson Profar entered the game as princh-runner for Texas, played as short stop and was 1-for-1 with a walk. Profar contributed to the winning run in the ninth. Leading 4-0, Texas scored another run in the bottom of the fifth when Nomar Mazara led off with a homerun. With two outs, Elvis Andrus doubled and was replaced by Profar, who entered as pinch-runner, but he was left behind. In the top of the sixth, Profar became the new short stop. In the seventh inning, Luis Marte led off with a double for Texas and moved to third base on a grounder. Profar then walked and stole second base, but the two runners stranded. In the top of the ninth, Milwaukee came alongside thanks to a sacrifice fly by Jake Hager and 3-run homerun by Dustin Houle. With the score now at 5-5, Ernesto Frieri took over the pitching for Milwaukee, but walked lead-off hitter Preston Beck. His pinch-runner Eric Jenkins then moved on a wild pitch and advanced to third base when Profar followed with a single. Profar was able to reach second base when an outfield-error was made. With runners on second and third base, a force play was set up by walking Darwin Barney intentionally. But hereafter, Jenkins scored the winning run when Destin Hood hit a sacrifice fly.

...Jonathan Schoop playing for the Netherlands... ...during the 2017 World Baseball Classic... (© Photo: Henk Seppen) At Jupiter, Baltimore Orioles visited St. Louis Cardinals and won only 1-0. The lone run in the game was scored in the top of the second inning and it was Jonathan Schoop, who accounted for the run. Schoop started at second baseman and was 2-for-2 with a walk. In the top of the second inning, Schoop led off facing starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who threw five innings for St. Louis. On an 1-2 pitch, Schoop contacted well and drove the ball over the leftfield-fence for a homerun. This was his fifth homerun in Spring Training. Schoop also homered on Wednesday and Monday. His homerun on Wednesday also accounted for Baltimore's win. In the fourth inning, with one out, Schoop singled, but later stranded on second base. In the sixth, Schoop walked with one out, moved on a single by Pedro Alvarez, but hereafter, a double play ended the inning. In the bottom of the sixth, Schoop was replaced by Aderlin Rodriguez, who became the new first baseman. Luis Sardinas entered as new second baseman.

At Tampa, New York Yankees played at home against Pittsburgh Pirates and won 9-5. Trailing 3-1, New York scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning, then added four more in the next at bat. Didi Gregorius started as short stop for New York and was 0-for-3 with a walk. Gregorius struckout in the bottom of the first inning. In the third at bat, with two outs, Aaron Judge walked and (after a pitching-change) Giancarlo Stanton was hit by a pitch, then Gary Sanchez followed with a homerun to give New York a 4-3 lead. Hereafter, Gregorius walked and stole second base, but he was then left behind. Gregorius struckout again in the fourth inning and flied out in the seventh. In the top of the eighth, Gregorius was replaced by new short stop Diego Castillo.

At Fort Myers, Boston Red Sox played at home against Toronto Blue Jays and won 7-5. Boston led 6-0 when Toronto narrowed the deficit in the fifth inning by scoring four runs. Boston then added an insurance run in its fifth at bat. Xander Bogaerts started as short stop for Boston, was 1-for-2, scored a run and also batted in one. With a runner on third base in the bottom of the first inning and two outs, Bogaerts grounded out. With one out in the bottom of the third inning, Hanley Ramirez walked for Boston. After a pitching-change, he moved to third base when J.D. Martinez doubled and scored when Bogaerts followed with a sacrifice fly. Leading 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Boston added an extra run. With one out, Bogaerts doubled and scored on a following single by Rafael Devers. In the top of the sixth, Sam Travis replaced Bogaerts and took over at first base. Deven Marrero entered the game as new short stop.

At West Palm Beach, Washington Nationals played at home and lost 12-3 to Houston Astros. Houston had three productive innings, scoring three runs in the first, four in the fifth and five in the ninth at bat. Washington scored its three runs in the bottom of the ninth. Houston collected 17 basehits. Spencer Kieboom was 0-for-1 with a walk and an RBI for Washington. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kieboom was inserted as pinch-hitter for designated hitter Wilmer Difo. He faced new pitcher Colin McHugh and struckout. McHugh struckout the side in this inning. Kieboom became the new DH and got another at bat in the ninth inning. After having scored its first run and with the bases loaded and two outs, Blake Perkins walked for Washington to bring in the second run. Hereafter, Kieboom also walked, which led to the next run. But three runners were left behind when the inning and the game ended with a strikeout.

Thank you for visiting this site. Mail your suggestions and questions to stoov@wxs.nl Copyright © 1997-2018 Marco Stoovelaar / Grand Slam * Stats & News.