(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photo by Robert Bos)
 Diegomar Markwell strikes out 1,000th batter
Nederlands
 ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Diegomar Markwell has reached a historic milestone, as the lefthanded pitching-ace of Curaçao Neptunus struckout his 1,000th batter in his long career on Saturday (July 10).
Before today's home-game against Quick Amersfoort, Markwell needed five strikeouts to reach the mark and he did so in the six innings he pitched.
...Diegomar Markwell...
...1,000 strikeouts...
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
Markwell ended up with a no-decision, as the score was 0-0 when he left the mound after six innings.
He was relieved by Berry van Driel.
The veteran righthander then became the winning pitcher, as Neptunus rallied for six runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Kevin Kelly then threw the final two innings of the game that was won by Neptunus with a 7-2 score.
In his previous three games, Markwell struckout only three batters in 18 1/3 inning, but today, he struckout five, his highest total since striking out seven on May 20.
From the second inning, Markwell struckout one batter each inning.
After having struckout Emeron Lourens, Bas Wiers, Amar van Zwieten and Kai Berkel, Markwell started the sixth inning with 999 strikeouts.
He then struckout lead-off hitter Pascal Zegwaard in a strikeout that needed completion at first base, as the third strike ended up in the ground.
In the six innings he pitched, Markwell gave up only two basehits and retired the last eleven batters he faced.
Markwell is the 20th pitcher in history to throw 1,000 or more strikeouts in the regular season.
But he became only the fourth lefthanded pitcher to reach the milestone.
The all-time list is headed by Rob Cordemans (L&D Amsterdam Pirates), who struckout a record 2,053 batters.
The 1,000th strikeout is the second milestone reached by Markwell this season.
On May 27, he won his 150th career game, becoming only the third pitcher in history to reach this mark and tying Bart Volkerijk.
Markwell passed Volkerijk with his 151st win on June 3.
Rob Cordemans also is the recordholder in this category with 200 wins.
(July 11)
|
