Twins Oosterhout opened the score in the second inning, but led only 3-1 halfway the sixth inning.
The team then rallied for four runs in the sixth to take a more decisive distance.
The home-team came close to the opening run in the first inning off of Pioniers-starter T'sean Martina.
Lead-off hitter Rayshelon Carolina walked, then advanced to third base on respectively a sacrifice bunt by Mick Vos and a flyout by Tyriq Kemp.
But he was left behind.
An inning later, Twins did open the score when Shurman Marlin homered with one out.
...Jason Halman...
...double, 3 RBI's...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
From the second inning on, Twins kept on doing some scoring.
In the third inning, Mick Vos doubled with one out and scored the second run on a 2-out single by Jason Halman.
Twins was retired in order in the fourth inning, but added another run in the fifth with two outs.
Again, Vos and Halman were involved.
With one out, Rayshelon Carolina singled, but he was caught stealing.
Now with two outs, Mick Vos and Tyriq Kemp both walked.
The first scored when Jason Halman followed with a double.
Twins got the bases loaded when Urving Kemp walked, but the team failed to add some more runs, as it left the three runners behind.
Koen Postelmans started for Twins and threw seven solid innings.
The righthander retired the side in the first, second and third inning, striking out four batters.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Postelmans walked Michael Dumitrescu and gave up a single to Oliver van der Wijst Severino.
Next batter Denzel Brooks hit a line drive, but the ball was caught by third baseman Railison Bentura, who then completed a double play at second base.
The Twins-defense turned another double play in the fifth inning.
With one out, Postelmans walked Pim Vijfvinkel, but thereafter, Dirk van 't Klooster grounded into a double play.
Trailing 3-0, Pioniers got one run back in the sixth inning.
Jorrit Penseel led off with a single, was moved into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt by Bodhi de Vreede, then scored on a single by Raul Jacobs.
That would be the lone run Pioniers scored tonight.
Moments later, Twins took more distance in the bottom of the sixth with a 4-run rally off of two relievers.
Daniël Vos began the inning in relief of starter T'sean Martina, but he ran into problems.
The righthander gave up a lead-off single to Railison Bentura, who then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Diamond Silberie.
After Vos walked next batter Jarreau Martina, he gave up three consecutive runscoring singles to respectively Rayshelon Carolina, Mick Vos and Tyriq Kemp.
A pitching change followed, >Nathan Diaby took over, but he was greeted with a sacrifice fly by Jason Halman, which brought in the fourth run and increased the lead to 7-1.
The following innings remained scoreless.
Pioniers did get another runner in scoring position in the top of the seventh with two outs.
First, Denzel Brooks led off with a single, but just after he had reached first base, he was picked off first base by Koen Postelmans.
Next batter Duco Nuijten grounded out and was ejected by 1B Umpire Jeffrey Bentsnijder for his reaction after he was ruled out at first base.
Now with two outs, Pim Vijfvinkel singled and Dirk van 't Klooster reached on an error, but they were left behind.
In the eighth inning, off of new pitcher Raf Cocu, Pioniers also got its lead-off hitter on base, as Bodhi de Vreede walked.
But the Twins-defense then turned a double play on a following grounder by Raul Jacobs.
Offensively, Twins left a runner behind on first base in the bottom of the seventh, then was retired in order by new pitcher Lars Broersen in the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Chikara Igami closed the game for Twins.
The Japanese righthander also retired the side.
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Twins Oosterhout decides Wild Card-opener vs. Hoofddorp Pioniers in 6th inning
OOSTERHOUT (Neth.) -
Twins Oosterhout won 7-1 against Hoofddorp Pioniers on Thursday-evening (August 11) in the opener of its best-of-three Wild Card Bottom Series.
Twins initially led only 3-1, but then struck with a 4-run rally in the sixth inning to take a decisive lead.
Last weekend, the regular season ended with the final 3-game series in the Top-4 Pool.
In the opener of that series against HCAW, Amsterdam Pirates became the first team to secure a spot in the Wild Card Top Series.
Besides that, the team finished in first place to also qualify for next years European Champions Cup-tournament.
Two days later, Neptunus finished in second place to become the second team to reach the Top Series.
HCAW finished in third place in the Top-4 Pool, Twins finished in fourth place.
Duco Nuijten (Hoofddorp Pioniers) ejected in top 7th inning by 1B Umpire Jeffrey Bentsnijder for reaction after out-call at first base.