In the top of the first inning, Bologna stranded a runner on third base, then was retired in order in the next three innings.
Amsterdam Pirates got only two baserunners in its first four at bats, but both hit a homerun.
With one out in the top of the first inning, Amsterdam-starter Kevin Heijstek gave up a single to José Ferrini.
With two outs, Ferrini stole second base and was able to move to third base when a throwing error followed from catcher Max Clarijs.
Ferrini stranded on third base, as a flyout ended the inning.
Heijstek then retired the side in the second, third and fourth inning.
Bologna-starter Raoul Rivero retired the side in the first inning.
He also retired the side in the third inning.
And in the second and fourth inning, he more or less did the same.
However, in these two at bats, he retired three batters after first having given up a lead-off homerun.
In the bottom of the second inning, Denzel Richardson led off with a homerun.
And in the fourth, it was recently added Sharlon Schoop, who opened with a homerun to give Pirates a 2-0 lead.
After Kevin Heijstek had retired the side again in the fifth, Amsterdam Pirates got its next baserunner in the bottom half of this inning.
With two outs, Niels van Weert singled and was awarded second base on a balk.
But he stranded on second base, as Rivero closed with a strikeout.
Bologna got on the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning.
Since giving up the single in the first inning, the dominating Kevin Heijstek retired 15 consecutive batters.
But with one out in the sixth inning, he gave up a run when Francesco Fuzzi homered.
The next two batters were then retired again.
...Denzel Richardson put Amsterdam ahead with a homerun...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Bologna went to the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth, as Stephen Perakslis then over from Raoul Rivero and retired the side.
The 28-year old American righthander pitched professionally in the Minor Leagues for Chicago Cubs in 2012-2017, reaching Triple-A.
Last year, Perakslis pitched in Double-A for Seattle Mariners.
In the Winter Season 2018-2019, he played in Puerto Rico.
Amsterdam also made a pitching change moments later, as Jhan Rifaela took over in the top of the seventh.
The lefthander walked lead-off hitter John Polonius.
The Curaçao-born infielder played professionally since 2012 in all levels in the organization of San Francisco Giants.
In 2017 and 2018 combined, Polonius played in eleven games in Triple-A.
He became a Free Agent in November last year.
When Rifaela also walked next batter Osman Marval, Amsterdam Head Coach Brian Finnegan made another pitching change.
With two runners on base, he brought in closer Tom Stuifbergen.
The hardthrowing righthander got a double play-grounder from Venezuelan Ericson Leonora, but that also brought Polonius to third base.
Next, Stuifbergen walked Alessandro Vaglio, but then ended the threat by striking out Lionar Kindelán Biset, who is the son of legendary Cuban slugger Orestes Kindelán Olivares.
In the bottom of the seventh, Denzel Richardson led off with a single for Pirates.
However, the next two batters struckout, then the inning ended when Richardson was caught stealing.
In the next at bat, the Amsterdam-squad again got its lead-off hitter on base off of new pitcher Nicholas Pugliese when Linoy Croes walked.
After Pugliese followed with a strikeout, Croes stole second base.
Pugliese then also struckout the next two batters.
In the top of the ninth, Bologna reached base one more time off of Tom Stuifbergen.
With two outs, Ericson Leonora singled.
The inning and the game then ended when Stuifbergen fielded a comeback-grounder from Alessandro Vaglio.
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Amsterdam Pirates homers to win in European Champions Cup-opener
BOLOGNA (Italy) -
In its first game of this years European Champions Cup-tournament, L&D Amsterdam Pirates won 2-1 on Tuesday-evening (June 4) against UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna, which is the host of this years event.
All runs in the evening-game were scored on homeruns.
And as two of them were hit by Amsterdam Pirates, the team ended up victorious.
European Champions Cup 2019.