Today's game was decided in the last regular inning, as it were the relievers who allowed both teams to score runs.
Starting pitchers Lars Huijer (Pioniers) and Naut Kragt (Pirates) both had a good outing, but both ended up with a no-decision.
Huijer struckout nine batters in seven innings, but also gave up seven basehits and two runs.
Kragt did better in the six innings he was on the mound for Pirates.
He struckout only two batters, but also gave up only two basehits and held Pioniers scoreless.
The rookie was in line to become the winning pitcher when he left the mound, as Pirates led 3-0, but that lead was erased moments later.
Amsterdam Pirates got into scoring position off of Lars Huijer right away in the first inning, but the team opened the score in the fifth at bat.
In the first inning, Huijer walked lead-off hitter Gilmer Lampe, who then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Sharlon Schoop.
With two outs, Denzel Richardson also walked, but Huijer then closed with a strikeout.
In the third inning, with one out, Lampe singled and stole second base, but again stranded, as Huijer struckout the next two batters.
After Huijer was supported with a double play in the fourth inning, the righthander gave up two runs in the fifth.
With one out, Jair van Borkulo and Roelie Henrique (bunt) both singled.
They both scored when Gilmer Lampe followed with a single.
Next batter Sharlon Schoop also singled to put runners at the corners.
Moments later, Lampe tried to score on a wild pitch, but was eliminated.
Huijer closed with his seventh strikeout.
With two outs in the seventh inning, Lampe hit his third basehit in the game and reached base for the fourth time.
This time, he stranded on first base.
Amsterdam Pirates added another run in the eighth off of new pitcher Lars Broersen.
With one out, Denzel Richardson walked.
He moved to third base on a wild pitch, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Kenny Berkenbosch to make it a 3-0 score.
Naut Kragt retired the first ten batters he faced.
With one out in the fourth, the righthander walked Joey Eeman, then gave up a 2-out single to Victor Draijer.
The two advanced on a wild pitch, but were left behind.
In the fifth, Kragt gave up a lead-off single to Tyler Boersma.
With one out, he was forced out on a grounder by Nolan Beugeling.
The latter stole second base, but also stranded.
After Kragt had retired the side in the sixth, he was relieved by Donny Breek in the bottom of the seventh with Pirates leading 3-0.
Breek walked lead-off hitter Victor Draijer, who advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Mervin Gario and a grounder by Tyler Boersma.
Draijer stranded on third base when a flyout ended the at bat.
Gario, who is the Head Coach of Pioniers, started his first game of the season.
He played one inning in defense on August 1.
Today, he played at third base the entire game.
The Amsterdam bullpen failed to hold onto the lead in the eighth inning.
However, it was not entirely their fault, as two errors were made that contributed to three unearned runs that tied the score.
Donny Breek walked lead-off hitter Nolan Beugeling, who moved into scoring position on a grounder by Jaison Gijsbertha.
Beugeling scored when a grounder by Mark Smit ended in a throwing error from second baseman Delano Selassa.
Smit ended up on second base, then moved on a wild pitch and scored on a grounder by >Joey Eeman.
Hereafter, with the score now at 3-2, Shairon Martis took over the Pirates-pitching.
He also saw the first batter he faced reach base.
Max Draijer hit a grounder, which appeared to end the at bat, but short stop Sharlon Schoop also made a throwing error.
That enabled Draijer to reach second base and moments later, he scored when Victor Draijer followed with a single.
And that tied the score.
Amsterdam Pirates immediately answered with a run in the top of the ninth off of new pitcher Angelo Wicklert, who ran into problems quickly.
He gave up a lead-off single to Delano Selassa, but he was forced out on a bunt by Jair van Borkulo.
The latter was replaced by pinch-runner Raydley Legito, who stole second base, then moved to third base when Wicklert made a throwing error on a comeback-grounder by Roelie Henrique.
The bases got loaded when Gilmer Lampe walked and reached base for the fifth time.
Wicklert then also walked Sharlon Schoop, which gave Pirates a 4-3 lead.
Despite having the bases loaded and only one out, the team scored only once.
Nathan Diaby took over the pitching and struckout powerhitters Kalian Sams and Denzel Richardson.
How things can change in favor of a pitcher was underscored with this run.
Starter Naut Kragt gave up only two basehits and no runs in six solid innings, but had a no-decision.
Shairon Martis gave up the tying run, was credited with a Blown Save, faced only three batters (1/3 inning), but became the winning pitcher, as he was pitching for Pirates when the team re-took the lead.
Mike Groen closed the game for Pirates by pitching the ninth inning.
With one out, he gave up a single to Reangelo Willems, but he was forced out on a grounder by Nolan Beugeling.
The game ended with a flyout and Groen was credited with his second save of the season.
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Amsterdam Pirates scores winning run in 9th inning vs. Hoofddorp Pioniers
HOOFDDORP (Neth.) -
L&D Amsterdam Pirates led 3-0 halfway the eighth inning, but then broke a 3-3 tie in the ninth to win 4-3 against Hoofddorp Pioniers on Sunday (August 16).
The original opener on Thursday-evening was postponed.
Over a week ago, it was reported that a player of the second team of Hoofddorp Pioniers had been tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19), but luckily had only minor symptoms.
Pioniers immediately cancelled last weekend's games of both the big league-team and the second team, as well as the opener of this week's series.
The game will be made up coming Tuesday-evening.
The game was played on Field #2 of the Pioniers Complex, due to renovation of the main-field.