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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen) Neptunus forces third games in Wild Card Top Series vs. Amsterdam Pirates Nederlands ROTTERDAM (Neth.) - Curaçao Neptunus won 8-4 on Saturday (August 13) in Game 2 of the best-of-three Wild Card Top Series against L&D Amsterdam Pirates. With that, Neptunus forced a third and deciding game that will be played on Sunday in Amsterdam. Last Thursday, Pirates won the opener 4-3 in eleven innings after an early 3-0 lead. Today, it was Neptunus that took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning, but Amsterdam Pirates came alongside. Neptunus re-took the lead in the fourth, then added two more insurance runs in the eighth. Sometimes, you have 'one of those games'. Sometimes, you have 'one of those days'. Today was 'one of those days', as there was a lot of going in the three Wild Card-games that were played today. In the game in Rotterdam, there was an ejection, there were some discussions, water sprayers being turned on during an injury-related-pitching-change and more arguments after a close play at the plate resulting in an Amsterdam-run. In Hoofddorp, Twins Oosterhout outscored Hoofddorp Pioniers 13-4 to win their best-of-three Wild Card Bottom Series (2-0) and advance to the best-of-five Play-Offs. In this game, there was a pick-off-turning-into-injury-delay, which turned into a rare long on-field delay, there was a walk turning into a strikeout-double-play becoming only one single out. And there also was an ejection. In Haarlem, DSS/Kinheim was one hit away from completing a come-from-behind victory in the ninth inning against HCAW. But the game went into unexpected extra innings and HCAW won 10-7 to win their Bottom Series and also advance to the Play-Offs. Oh, in this game, we had a pitcher delivering a 2-run single. And we had three long games. In Rotterdam, the game took two hours and 53 minutes. In Haarlem, the ten innings were played in three hours and 32 minutes. But the game in Hoofddorp lasted three hours and 50 minutes. Well, maybe we all have to blame this to today's heat, as it was 30 (or more) degrees Celsius (86 F) on all three locations. With that, there now officially is a heatwave in the Netherlands for the first time in two years. To get a heatwave, there have to be five consecutive days with temperatures of at least 25 degrees Celsius (77 F), including three of 30 degrees C (86 F). Today, the highest temperature was recorded in the Netherlands on an August 13, as it was 33,2 degrees C (91,8 F) in the city of Eindhoven. The previous record was 33,1 (91,6), which was recorded in 1997. Whatever happens in the third game in Amsterdam on Sunday, Amsterdam Pirates and Neptunus already have secured a spot in the Play-Offs as well as having secured home-advantage in those series by finishing in first and second place in the Top-4 Pool. The winner of this Wild Card Top Series meets Twins Oosterhout in the best-of-five Play-Offs, the losing team will play against HCAW. The Play-Offs open coming Thursday-evening. Also beginning on that evening will be a best-of-five Play-Off between Hoofddorp Pioniers and DSS/Kinheim to decide fifth and sixth place. Although Hoofddorp Pioniers has won the Wild Card Qualifier against DSS/Kinheim, this series opens at the site of the latter in Haarlem. As published in the game-schedule, the home-advantage of this series goes to the losing team of Wild Card Bottom Series 1, which was the series between HCAW and DSS/Kinheim. The two winners of the Play-Offs advance to the best-of-seven Holland Series, which opens on September 8. (August 13)

Neptunus rallied for four runs in the bottom of the first inning, but it was Amsterdam Pirates that got an opportunity to open the score in its first at bat. Neptunus-starter Aaron de Groot walked lead-off hitter Rachid Engelhardt, then got the bases loaded when he gave up a single to Delano Selassa and also walked Denzel Richardson. But with three runners on base and no outs, De Groot avoided giving up runs. He first struckout Sharlon Schoop, then got a double play-grounder from Sicnarf Loopstok. Neptunus then struck with a 4-run rally (two unearned runs) in the bottom of the first inning off of Pirates-starter Shairon Martis. The righthander gave up a lead-off triple to Stijn van der Meer, then an infield-hit to Jiandido Tromp. Van der Meer was eliminated at the plate trying to score on a grounder towards short by John Polonius. Next, Neptunus got the bases loaded on a single by Roger Bernadina. The home-team then scored its first two runs when a force play-grounder (and possible double play-grounder) by Junior Martina ended in a throwing error from short stop Sharlon Schoop. Hereafter, Bernadina scored on a single by Dwayne Kemp and Martina scored on a force play-grounder by Christian Diaz. ...Junior Martina playing for DSS in his... ...first big league-season in 2018... (© Photo: Henk Seppen) The 24-year old Junior Martina played in his first game of the season for Neptunus. In 2018, the infielder made his debut in the Dutch big league, playing in thirteen games for DSS. Martina then made his professional debut in 2019 playing in the Rookie League and Single-A teams of Washington Nationals. When the 2020 Minor League-season was completely cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martina returned to the Dutch big league and played in 16 games for Twins Oosterhout. Last year, Martina again was on the roster of Twins, but he resumed his professional career in the USA and then played in Single-A. This year, the infielder played in four different teams at four different Minor League-levels. Martina started the season in Single-A, then played four games in the Rookie League, followed by eight games in Triple-A in June. He then returned to the Single-A team and was added to the High Single-A team in July. There, with Wilmington Blues, he played in eight games. Last Tuesday (August 9), Martina was released by the Washington-organization. A few days later, he joined Neptunus. In the top of the second inning, Amsterdam Pirates got one run back. With one out, Tommy van de Sanden singled and Kenny Berkenbosch walked. With two outs, Van de Sanden scored on a single by Rachid Engelhardt. Pirates came alongside in the top of the third inning, which had an ejection, an injury-related pitching change and an unexpected fountain. Aaron de Groot first walked Denzel Richardson. Ball four led to some reactions from the side of Neptunus and a discussion between Head Coach Raily Legito and Home Plate Umpire Efrem Silvania. During this talk, Silvania also asked Pirates Head Coach Ronald Jaarsma to join them to say to both coaches that arguing from both sides about balls and strikes had to stop. While this discussing was going on, Neptunus Pitching Coach Diegomar Markwell said something from the dug-out and was ejected by Silvania. After the discussion was over, both Legito and Silvania walked to De Groot. Moments later, De Groot also walked Sharlon Schoop on four consecutive balls. When the first pitch to next batter Sicnarf Loopstok also was outside the strike-zone, Legito came to the mound, accompanied by Physical Therapist Frensis Bulo-van Delden. De Groot left the game and Kaj Timmermans was brought in. Timmermans was the announced starter for Sunday's game and had just started some warm-up pitches in the bullpen. While De Groot walked off the field, the Physical Therapist remained on the mound and he talked with some of the infielders. When Timmermans walk in from the bullpen, all infielders and outfielders of Neptunus left the field to have a drink in the dug-out. As this was an injury-related pitching change, Timmermans was allowed enough time to warm up. During this time, for some reason, suddenly the water-sprayers in the infield were turned on while Timmermans was warming up. Normally, water-sprayers are activated before the start of the game or, if needed, between innings. ...Kaj Timmermans was the winning pitcher... (© Photo: Henk Seppen) After a 10-minute delay, the game resumed. Timmermans took over De Groot/Loopstok's at bat with an 1-0 count. The righthander threw three consecutive balls, which resulted in a walk for Loopstok and gave Pirates three runners on base. Timmermans followed by striking out Kalian Sams. By the way, during this at bat, there was another discussion whether of not Sams had fouled off a pitch. With one out, Timmermans saw Pirates come alongside. First, a run was scored on a sacrifice fly by Tommy van de Sanden, which led to the next discussion. On the flyout, Richardson scored from third base and slid into home plate in a close play. Head Coach Raily Legito sprinted out of the dug-out to go into an argument with Home Plate Umpire Efrem Silvania, but the call was upheld, so Richardson scored. On the next pitch, Pirates scored two more runs on a single by Kenny Berkenbosch, which made it a 4-4 score. Neptunus re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Shairon Martis got two quick outs, but the gave up a single to Stijn van der Meer, then an RBI-double to Jiandido Tromp and a runscoring single to John Polonius. That made it a 6-4 score. In the next three at bats, Neptunus got only one baserunner. The team then added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth off of new pitcher Nicola Garbella. The Italian righthander gave up an infield-hit to Dwayne Kemp, who was awarded second base when a following throwing error ended up in the dug-out. He then moved to third base on a bunt-single to Christian Diaz. With one out, a double-steal followed and Kemp scored. With Diaz on second base, Dave Janssen hit a grounder to third baseman Delano Selassa. He tried to eliminated Diaz, but everyone was safe. Hereafter, Diaz scored on a single by Stijn van der Meer (who was 4-for-5), but Janssen was eliminated when he tried to advance to third base on the throw to the plate. A flyout ended the at bat, but Neptunus now led 8-4. After having scored three runs in the third inning, Amsterdam Pirates was kept scoreless in the remainder of the game. The team left only two more runners behind in scoring position off of Kaj Timmermans, who completed the game for Neptunus. In the fifth, he gave up an one-out double to Sicnarf Loopstok, but he stranded on second base. In the sixth, Rachid Engelhardt (fielder's choice) was on first base when Delano Selassa walked, but they also were left behind. Timmermans then retired the side in the next two at bats. In the ninth, he gave up a 2-out single to Denzel Richardson. He was then forced out, which ended the game. And with that, the series is tied and a third and deciding game will be played on Sunday in Amsterdam.

Curaçao Neptunus - L&D Amsterdam Pirates 8-4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E L&D Amsterdam Pirates 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 4 7 2 Curaçao Neptunus 4 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 X - 8 13 0 pitchers Amsterdam Pirates inn. SO BB H R ER Shairon Martis, L (0-1) 7 7 - 10 6 4 Nicola Garbella 1 1 - 3 2 2 pitchers Neptunus inn. SO BB H R ER Aaron de Groot 2 (*) 4 5 3 3 3 Kaj Timmermans, W (1-0) 7 (**) 4 2 4 1 1 (*) - De Groot pitched to two batters in the third inning (**) - Timmermans took over from De Groot in the third inning with an 1-0 count on the batter, who walked; The walk was credited to Timmermans Box Score Play-by-Play Standings Scores Schedule Team Rosters Umpires: HP-Efrem Silvania, 1B-Aad Otsen, 3B-Olav Steijger. Official Scorer-Feiko Drost. Play-by-Play Scorer-Maaike Houtkamp. Technical Commissioner-René Ras. Public Address Announcer-Hélène van Eijk-Kloos. Scoreboard Operator-Theo Jansen. Starting Time-2:01 PM. Time Played-2:57 hrs. Site-Neptunus Familiestadion, Sportpark Abraham van Stolkweg, Rotterdam. Game Notes: Diegomar Markwell (Pitching Coach Neptunus) ejected in top 3rd inning by HP Umpire Efrem Silvania for arguing. 10-minute injury/warmup-delay in top 3rd inning, injured pitcher Aaron de Groot replaced by Kaj Timmermans with Neptunus leading 4-1, no outs, runners on first and second base and an 1-0 count on the batter. Game 2 best-of-three Wild Card Top Series. Series tied, 1-1. Weather conditions at game time: Sunny, 30° C (86° F); wind direction east; wind speed 16 kmh (9,9 mph); wind force 3 Bft; humidity 25%.

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