It didn't come easy today for the Netherlands.
The team reached base only four times in the first seven innings.
Three of the runners got into scoring position, but none of them were able to score.
...Kalian Sams scored the lone run...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
The Netherlands faced Venezuelan-born righthander Lowuin Alberto Sacramento, who had a fine outing for Spain.
The 32-year old Sacramento is a veteran in the Spanish Team for whom he pitches since making his debut during the 2010 European Championship in Germany.
While born and raised in Venezuela, Sacramento also has a Spanish passport.
In 2010, he played for CB Barcelona, then in 2011 for Sant Boi (both in Spain), with whom he then also participated in the European Cup Final Four Qualifier in Amsterdam (Netherlands).
In following years, Sacramento played for Marlins Puerto de la Cruz on Tenerife, Astros de Valencia (both in Spain), Grosseto (Italy) and Zürich Challengers (Switzerland).
Since 2016, he pitches again for Astros de Valencia.
Before coming to Europe, the righthander pitched three seasons (2006-2008) at the Rookie League-level in the Dominican Republic in the organization of the Colorado Rockies.
Sacramento is not the only Venezuelan-born player on the roster.
Others include 29-year old outfielder Lesther Aarón Galván Arevalo (professional 2007-2009 Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins), 22-year old infielder Jhonny Angel Bethencourt (professional since 2015, Chicagpo Cubs), 35-year old infielder Oscar David Angulo (professional 2004 Milwaukee Brewers), 34-year old catcher Blake Stevens Ochoa (professional 2004-2011, San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners), 31-year old lefthanded pitcher Antonio Noguera Rodriguez (professional 2005-current, Houston Astros), 36-year old righthanded pitcher Leslie Jassttin Nacar Mejias (professional 2001-2007, San Francisco Giants) and 31-year old lefthanded pitcher Ricardo José Hernández Sanchez (professional since 2006, first three years with Florida Marlins), who pitched for Hoofddorp Pioniers in the Dutch big league in 2014-2015.
Before coming to the Netherlands, the lefthander pitched for Nettuno in Italy.
Since 2016, he again is active in Italy, playing for Rimini and Nettuno Baseball City.
Some other veteran players come from the Dominican Republic, including 30-year old designated hitter Jesus Fernando Martínez (professional 2009-2013 New York Mets, Houston Astros), 31-year old utility player Yancarlo Franco (professional 2006-2009 Minnesota Twins), 29-year old outfielder Engel Manuel Beltré (professional since 2007, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, played in 22 games Major League with Texas in 2013) and 32-year old righthanded pitcher Rhiner Allen Cruz Montero (professional since 2004, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Houston Astros, Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, played in 72 Major League-games with Houston in 2012-2013, two with Toronto in 2018).
Cruz played for Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in Japan in 2014-2015 and also played in the professional leagues in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico.
Ochoa, Noguera, Nacar, Hernández, Beltré and Cruz all participated with Spain in the 2013 World Baseball Classic when the team was managed by Italian Mauro Mazzotti.
This year, Spain is managed by Venezuelan Luis Beltrán Sojo Sojo, who played 13 seasons in the Major League for Toronto Blue Jays (1990; 1993), California Angels (1991-1992), Seattle Mariners (1994-1996), New York Yankees (1996-1999; 2000-2001; 2003) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2000).
As an infielder, Sojo played in 848 games, 274 of them with New York Yankees.
During his long career, he was the best hitter in the Venezualan Winter League five times.
Back to Lowuin Sacramento, who threw 7 2/3 inning for Spain today.
Last year, during the Super6 in Hoofddorp (Netherlands), Sacramento pitched three innings in relief against the Netherlands, striking out four batters and giving up one basehit.
That game was halted due to rain after one inning with the Netherlands leading 3-0.
The game resumed the next day and Sacramento then took over the Spanish pitching.
The lone hit he gave up then was a homerun by Kirvin Moesquit, who then was one of the debuting players in the Netherlands Team.
Ademar Rifaela then also played in his first Orange-tournament and received two walks from Sacramento, who for most of his career was used as a reliever.
...Ricardo Hernández Sanchez closed...
...the game for Spain...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Today, Sacramento retired the first six batters he faced.
In the third inning, he walked lead-off hitter Kalian Sams, who advanced to third base on an one-out single by John Polonius.
But hereafter, Calten Daal grounded into a double play.
Sacramento retired the side again in the fourth and fifth inning.
In the sixth, the righthander gave up a lead-off double to Dwayne Kemp, but he stranded on second base.
In the seventh, Sacramento walked Sharlon Schoop with one out.
He advanced on a wild pitch, but became the third Dutch runner to be left behind in scoring position.
Lefthander Diegomar Markwell started for the Netherlands.
He retired the side in the first inning, but got some baserunners in the second at bat.
With one out, he walked Lesther Galván, but Markwell eliminated him at first base with a pick-off.
Next batter Jesus Martínez also walked, then Yancarlo Franco doubled, but the inning ended with a flyout.
In the third, Markwell gave up an one-out double to Engel Beltré, but then closed with two strikeouts.
In the fourth inning, Tom de Blok took over the Orange pitching and did great, as he allowed only two batters to reach base through the eighth inning.
De Blok began with a strikeout in the fourth, then gave up a single to Lesther Galván, but the Dutch defense followed with a double play.
After having retired the side in the fifth, De Blok gave up an one-out single to Jhonny Bethencourt in the sixth, but retired the next two batters.
The righthander retired the side again in the seventh and eighth inning (three strikeouts).
With that, Spain got only three runners in scoring position, the last of them in the third inning.
The Netherlands got its next scoring opportunity in the bottom of the eighth inning and this time, it was turned into a run.
Kalian Sams led off with a single and was moved to second base via a sacrifice bunt by Dwayne Kemp.
Hereafter, Sacramento struckout John Polonius.
But with two outs, Calten Daal grounded to deep short, where short stop Jhonny Bethencourt fielded the ball near the infield/outfield-border.
Daal reached on an infield-hit, but as the ball was hit to the deep left side, Sams continued to the plate and slid in head first, beating the throw from Bethencourt to score what would be the lone run in the game.
It also ended the afternoon for Sacramento, who was relieved by Ricardo Hernández.
He walked Roger Bernadina and saw Daal steal third base, but closed by striking out Curt Smith.
With the minimal 1-0 lead, Juan Carlos Sulbaran took the mound for the Netherlands in the top of the ninth.
With one out, he walked Oscar Angulo.
He followed with a strikeout, but then gave up a single to Lesther Galván.
With runners on first and second base, the game ended with a grounder from Jesus Martínez.
Playing for the Netherlands were:
Calten Daal (2B, 1-for-4), Roger Bernadina (CF, 0-for-3), Curt Smith (1B, 0-for-4), Sharlon Schoop (3B, 0-for-2), Ademar Rifaela (LF, 0-for-3), Hendrik Clementina (C, 0-for-3), Kalian Sams (RF, 1-for-2), Dwayne Kemp (DH, 1-for-2), John Polonius (SS, 1-for-3) and pitchers Diegomar Markwell, Tom de Blok and Juan Carlos Sulbaran.
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Netherlands advances to Final after tough win against Spain
BONN (Germany) -
The Netherlands Baseball Team recorded a tough 1-0 victory in its Semi-Final against Spain on Saturday (September 14) to reach the Final of the 35th European Championship in Germany.
The Netherlands scored the lone run in the game in the eighth inning in the quick-paced game, which took just over two hours to complete.
With the win, the Netherlands stayed unbeaten against Spain, recording its 36th win.
But the last few victories didn't come easy.
Of the last six games, five were won either an one-run or two-run difference.
After winning 2-0 during the European Championship in 2012, the Orange Team recorded a big 19-7 win at the 2014 Championship.
But hereafter, at the 2016 Championship, the Netherlands won 1-0 in the Play-Offs, then 3-2 in ten innings in the Final.
Last year, during the Super6, the Orange Team won 12-10.
Spain then led 7-6 after seven innings, before the Netherlands rallied for six runs in the eighth inning.
Semi-Final 35th European Baseball Championship.