Neptunus took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning, but didn't take much distance in the following at bats and led only 6-5 halfway the sixth inning.
The team then added a run moments later.
Although the first at bat was decisive and Neptunus never trailed, the run scored in the sixth proved to be one too much for opponent Twins Oosterhout.
This was a game that was led by an almost entire complete rookie umpiring crew.
Ric Zwanenberg, who made his big league-debut last year, was behind the plate.
He was joined in the field by Jacques Krutzen and Marwin Kleinmoedig, who both made their debut this season.
Kleinmoedig is a former big league-player and coach.
In the bottom of the first inning, Neptunus rallied for four runs after the first four batters reached base off of starter Simon Gross.
Stijn van der Meer led off with a walk and scored on a following double by Jiandido Tromp.
Hereafter, the home-team got the bases loaded when Dwayne Kemp walked and John Polonius singled.
The next run was then scored on a sacrifice fly by Christian Diaz and next batter Dashenko Ricardo added a 2-run double to put Neptunus ahead, 4-0.
But with Ricardo on second base and still only one out, Gross struckout next batters Sheadion Jamanika and Greg Muller to end this productive first at bat.
...Dashenko Ricardo...
...2 doubles, 2 RBI's, 1 run scored...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Twins also got into scoring position in its first at bat off of Neptunus-starter Kaj Timmermans.
The righthander gave up a lead-off single to Rayshelon Carolina, who moved to second base when a pick-off attempt ended in a throwing error.
But he stranded on second base.
Timmermans retired the side in the second inning, then gave up two runs in the third at bat.
Diamond Silberie led off with a double, advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Railison Bentura.
With two outs, Mick Vos walked, moved to third on a single by Tyriq Kemp, then scored the second Twins-run on another wild pitch.
Neptunus answered with two runs in its third at bat off of new pitcher Jeffrey Levenstone, who had relieved Simon Gross in the second inning.
In that at bat, Neptunus left two runners behind, but in the third, the team got the bases loaded and scored twice.
Christian Diaz led off with a walk, but was caught stealing after a successful pick-off.
Dashenko Ricardo then doubled and with two outs, the bases got loaded when Greg Muller reached on an infield-hit and Raydley Legito walked.
Hereafter, Levenstone also walked Stijn van der Meer and Jiandido Tromp, which made it a 6-2 score and kept the bases loaded.
Elton Koeiman (who is the Pitching Coach) then took over the pitching for Twins.
The veteran righthander got an inning-ending flyout and three runners were left behind.
Twins came close to another run in the top of the fifth off of Misja Harcksen, who had relieved Kaj Timmermans in the fourth inning.
The righthander gave up an one-out triple to Rayshelon Carolina, but he stranded on third base.
Twins then was more successful in the top of the sixth.
The team rallied for three runs on three doubles and narrowed the deficit to 6-5.
With one out, Shurman Marlin and Urving Kemp hit back-to-back doubles, resulting in a run.
Next batter Jarreau Martina walked, then Twins got runners on second and third base when Diamond Silberie flied out in foul territory.
Both scored when Railison Bentura followed with the third double in this at bat.
That led to a pitching change.
Kevin Bakker took over and got an inning-ending flyout.
In the bottom of the sixth, Neptunus added an insurance run, which was unearned as result of an error.
Lead-off hitter Dre Celestijn reached on an error.
The rookie advanced to third base on a single by Dwayne Kemp.
Next batter John Polonius grounded into a double play, which kept Celestijn at third base.
But he then scored on a single by Christian Diaz.
Kevin Bakker didn't encounter more problems in the remainder of the game.
He retired the side in the seventh and eighth.
In the ninth, he gave up a 2-out single to pinch-hitter Luuk Visser, but was forced out.
With that, Bakker threw three-plus effective innings and was credited with the win.
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Neptunus wins final regular season-game in first inning
ROTTERDAM (Neth.) -
Curaçao Neptunus closed its regular season on Sunday (August 7) with a 7-5 victory against Twins Oosterhout.
Neptunus rallied for four runs in the first inning, which proved to be decisive.
Twins came back into the game and trailed only 6-5 halfway the sixth inning, but Neptunus then added an insurance run.
With the win, Neptunus completed a 3-game sweep.
On Saturday, Neptunus became the second team to secure a spot in both the Wild Card Top Series and the Play-Offs.
Neptunus finished in second place in the Top-4 Pool behind L&D Amsterdam Pirates, which became the first team to advance last Thursday.