Starting pitchers Lars Huijer (Hoofddorp Pioniers) and Orlando Yntema (Neptunus) didn't gave way much in today's game.
The game was quick-paced and the nine innings were completed in only one hour and 46 minutes.
That made it one of the fastest 9-inning games in history.
It was the fastest game in which nine complete innings were played since April 24, 2016 when a game between Kinheim and Neptunus lasted one hour and 59 minutes.
Umpire John Beltman was involved in both games.
In 2016, he was at third base, today, he was at first base.
Both Lars Huijer and Orlando Yntema retired the first nine batters they faced.
But the double Perfect Game ended in the fourth inning, for both.
The top of the fourth inning was the lone at bat in which Neptunus was productive.
A costly error led to two runs.
Stijn van der Meer led off with a single, then Benjamin Dille placed a bunt.
Pitcher Lars Huijer fielded the ball and turned to throw it towards first base where second baseman Raul Jacobs had taken over.
Huijer made a high, but catchable throw, but Jacobs missed the ball.
Dille ended on on third base with his sacrifice bunt, while Van der Meer scored.
With one out, Dille scored the next run on a grounder by Gianison Boekhoudt.
Hereafter, Dudley Leonora singled and stole second base.
But he stranded when short stop Nolan Beugeling caught an inning-ending line drive by Shaldimar Daantji.
In the remainder of the game, Neptunus would get only two more baserunners off of Huijer, who went the distance.
In the sixth inning, Dwayne Kemp singled with two outs, but was left behind on first base.
And in the seventh inning, Dudley Leonora led off with a single, but was eliminated in an unassisted double play by first baseman Tyler Boersma, who caught another line drive hit by Shaldimar Daantji.
The top of the ninth began with a nice defensive play from Pioniers.
Benjamin Dille led off and hit a comeback line drive that hit pitcher Lars Huijer and jumped towards third base for an apparent infield-hit.
But third baseman Duco Nuijten made a nice play and while falling down got the ball in time to first base to eliminate Dille.
...Rookie 2B Mick Vos catches an...
...infield-fly in the 9th inning...
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
Trailing 2-0, Pioniers got its first baserunner in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth.
With one out, Raul Jacobs singled.
With two outs, he stole second base and was awarded third on a balk, but stranded.
Pioniers got its next baserunner in the sixth, when Mark Smit hit a single with two outs, but he was left on first base.
And in the eighth, Damian Melis singled with two outs, but was forced out.
Still trailing only 2-0, Pioniers got a big opportunity to turn the game its way in the bottom of the ninth.
The team got the bases loaded with no outs, giving it a chance to come alongside and force extra innings, or maybe even leave the field victorious.
However, the three runners were left behind!
Mark Smit led off with a single and Raul Jacobs walked, which led to a pitching change.
Berry van Driel was brought in to close the game for Orlando Yntema.
Nolan Beugeling turned for a bunt.
He bunted the ball in the air and it appeared to be catchable.
However, catcher Julian Goins, third baseman Dwayne Kemp, first baseman Dudley Leonora and pitcher Berry van Driel all made an attempt, but the ball was out of their reach.
The ball dropped on the ground for a bunt-single and the bases were loaded.
Hereafter, there were some movements in the dug-out of Pioniers, making it appear that one or more pinch-hitters would be inserted, but that didn't happen.
With the bases loaded, Van Driel struckout Jelle Kroft on three pitches.
With only one out, there still were scoring opportunities.
However, both Joey Eeman and Tyler Boersma opted to go after the first pitch.
Eeman popped up for an infield-fly, Boersma grounded out.
And that ended the game, which could have had a very different outcome.
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Neptunus saves small lead, survives bases loaded in 9th inning
HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus won only 2-0 on Saturday (May 11) in its second game against Hoofddorp Pioniers.
