In tonight's game, the starting pitchers were facing their former teams.
Chris Pfau, the starter for Hoofddorp Pioniers, played for HCAW in the previous two seasons, before returning to Hoofddorp.
On the other side, HCAW's starter Luuk ter Beek pitched for Pioniers since 2017.
In that year, Ter Beek made his big league-debut playing for Pioniers where Pfau then was his teammate.
Both starters gave up an unearned run in the first inning.
Pfau began with a strikeout for debuting Raibiëntly Mercalina, who was announced as new player on the roster of HCAW earlier in the day.
Tonight, Mercalina was the starting second baseman and was the lead-off hitter.
Next batter Bob van der Meer reached on an error, then Linoy Croes singled and Rodney Daal followed with a runscoring single.
With Croes on third base, the inning ended with a double play.
Ter Beek gave up an one-out single to Mark Smit, who the moved into scoring position on a wild pitch and advanced to third base on a passed ball.
Hereafter, Max Draijer walked.
In a double steal-situation, Draijer was caught stealing, but Smit was able to score the tying run.
Pfau retired the side in the second and third inning.
Ter Beek got three outs in a row in the second, but then got two baserunners in the next inning.
With two outs, Raul Jacobs singled, then an error was made on a grounder by Mark Smit, but the inning ended with a force out.
In the top of the fourth, HCAW broke the 1-1 tie by adding two runs.
With one out, Rodney Daal and Kevin Dirksen singled.
With two outs, both scored when Berend Ruben delivered a 2-run double.
HCAW scored another run in the fifth inning.
Jeandro Tromp led off with a single, then Bob van der Meer walked with one out.
Next, Linoy Croes singled, which enabled Tromp to score and brought Van der Meer to third base.
However, after rounding first base, Croes got into a rundown between first and second base and was eliminated.
Van der Meer stranded on third base, as Pfau closed with a strikeout.
Pioniers got one run back in its fifth at bat to narrow the deficit to 4-2.
With one out, Ter Beek gave up back-to-back doubles to Nolan Beugeling and Jorrit Penseel, which resulted in the run.
A strikeout and flyout then ended the inning.
In the next two innings, there were some baserunners, but no runs were added.
HCAW was retired in order in the sixth, then Jeandro Tromp singled with one out in the sixth, but later was caught stealing after a pick-off.
For Pioniers Tyler Boersma and Victor Draijer singled with one out in the sixth, but a force out and flyout followed.
In the seventh, Gio de Graauw took over the HCAW-pitching.
He walked lead-off hitter Nolan Beugeling, but he was left behind on first base as a flyout and two strikeouts followed the free pass.
HCAW added an insurance run in the top of the eighth inning off of new pitcher Sander Helmendach.
With one out, he walked Linoy Croes (who stole second base) and Rodney Daal, then gave up a runscoring single to Kevin Dirksen that made it a 5-2 score.
It also led to a pitching change, as Nathan Diaby relieved Helmendach.
With two outs, he got the bases loaded when he walked Berend Ruben, but the three runners were left behind, as Diaby closed with a strikeout.
Pioniers narrowed the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth.
Max Draijer led off with a walk and Tyler Boersma singled.
Momens later, Draijer scored when a throwing error was made on a grounder by Victor Draijer, which resulted in runners at the corners.
A grounder from pinch-hitter Reangelo Willems brought in Nathan Berkel, who had come in as pinch-runner for Boersma.
Victor Draijer advanced to third base on another grounder, but was left there, as a strikeout closed the at bat.
After HCAW was retired in order in the top of the ninth, Pioniers got a final chance to do some scoring in its ninth at bat.
The team faced Arij Fransen, who made his first appearance of the season for HCAW.
Fransen was to play professionally this season in a Minor League-team of the Cincinnati Reds, but the entire Minor League-season has been cancelled due to the coronavirus-pandemic.
Fransen got permission to pitch for HCAW in the Dutch big league and began tonight with a strikeout.
With two outs, he walked Bodhi de Vreede, but a foul-out ended the inning and the game, which earned Fransen a save.
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HCAW nips Hoofddorp Pioniers in Heemstede
HEEMSTEDE (Neth.) -
HCAW led 4-1, but in the end nipped Hoofddorp Pioniers 5-4 on Thursday-evening (July 30) in the opener of their 3-game series.
This was a home-game for Pioniers, but the game was played in Heemstede at the site of RCH-Pinguïns, which played in the highest league itself some years ago.
The main-field at the Pioniers Complex in Hoofddorp is currently under renovation, which might take longer than expected.
It was initially announced that games could be played there from August on, but it is now rumored that at least another month of work is needed.
Raibiëntly Mercalina (HCAW) makes his debut in the Dutch big League.