In today's game, the Netherlands was outhit 5-3 by Germany, but managed to win, scoring the deciding run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
For the Netherlands, this was its first win on this European Championship,
But it came too late, as the damage had already been done in the previous two games, which resulted in two costly losses for the Netherlands.
Again, the Dutch wasn't that productive and was retired in order in three innings.
Germany had a good start of the game, as Nolan Lang and Marco Cardoso opened with singles in the top of the first inning off of Dutch starter Thomas Roijers.
But hereafter, a double play followed after a flyout to leftfield and a grounder ended the at bat.
...Bob van der Meer batted in the winning run...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
The Netherlands also got its lead-off hitter on base in the bottom of the first inning off of Phillipp Racek, who went the distance for Germany.
Julian Rip led off with a bunt-single, but he was caught stealing moments later.
Germany again threatened to open the score in the top of the second inning, as it got the bases loaded.
With one out, Alexander Schmidt and David Dinski singled and with two outs, Nino Sacasa walked.
Runs were avoided, as a grounder closed the inning.
The Netherlands got two baserunners in the bottom of the second.
With one out, Jules Cremer singled and Raul Jacobs walked, but the latter was forced out, then a strikeout followed to end the at bat.
The Orange Team then opened the score in the bottom of the third, but failed to add more runs and left runners behind on second and third base.
Lead-off hitter Jeandro Tromp reached on an error and Julian Rip walked.
With one out, the German defense made an error on a force play-grounder by Oliver van der Wijst Severino, which loaded the bases.
Tromp then scored on a grounder by Taylor Clemensia, but the other two runners stranded on second and third base when the inning ended with a strikeout for Jules Cremer.
The Netherlands was retired in order the next three innings, while Germany kept reaching the bases.
In the top of the fifth inning, new pitcher Angelo Wicklert hit Nolan Lang with a pitch, then walked David Grimes with two outs.
The inning ended when second baseman Raul Jacobs caught a line drive hit by Pascal Amon.
In the sixth inning, Raf Cocu took over the Dutch pitching.
He saw lead-off hitter Brandon Schrepf reach on an error, but he stranded on first base.
Germany was more successful in the top of the seventh and scored the tying run.
Nino Sacasa led off with a single, then advanced on a grounder by Nolan Lang, but that was followed by a throwing error from first baseman Taylor Clemensia, which resulted in the tying run.
With two outs, Cocu walked a batter, then closed with a strikeout, but the score was now tied at 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh, a German error led to the winning run.
Lead-off hitter Raul Jacobs reached second base on a throwing error from third baseman Nino Sacasa and moved to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Tommy van de Sanden.
Moments later, Jacobs scored the winning run on a single by Bob van der Meer.
This was only the third Dutch basehit and first since the second inning.
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Netherlands Under-23 Team defeats Germany in last inning
PRAGUE (Czech Rep.) -
The Netherlands Under-23 Team finally was able to win a game on the U23 European Championship.
On Friday-afternoon (August 9), Day 3 of the event in Prague, the Netherlands won 2-1 against Germany, scoring the winning run in the final at bat.
As mentioned earlier, the two Dutch losses not only were very disappointing, they also were very, very costly.
It meant that the Netherlands was dethroned as European champion, but also missed qualification for next years U23 Baseball World Cup in Mexico, which is an important tournament for the awarding of points for the world ranking list of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).