It was a cold afternoon in the historic Pim Mulier Stadium with a temperature of only 9 degrees Celsius (48,2 Fahrenheit).
However, due to the cold wind chill, the real-feel was only 6 degrees (42,8).
Despite the cold, the two teams treated the spectators to a fine game with an interesting line score and nice plays.
And good pitching-performances by relievers Mathijs Oosterbeek (DSS/Kinheim) and Michael Bennett (Amsterdam Pirates).
They accounted for the highlights in today's game.
DSS/Kinheim opened the score with an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning off of starter Nelmerson Angela.
The lefthander gave up a lead-off double to Nick Hofer, who moved to third base when a foul pop-fly by next batter Julian Toppen was caught deep behind first base in foul territory by first baseman Kenny Berkenbosch.
Next batter Urving Kemp also hit a pop-fly that was caught by centerfielder Roelie Henrique on the border of the infield.
A grounder by Sem Kuijper then appeared to become the third out, but an error was made and Hofer scored.
Amsterdam Pirates answered with seven runs in the top of the second inning off of three pitchers on three basehits.
DSS/Kinheim-starter Donny Breek had retired the side in the first inning, starting with a strikeout, but ran into problems in the second.
He first walked Denzel Richardson and Roelie Henrique, then got the bases loaded when Roelie Henrique singled.
Richardson then scored the tying run when Breek also walked Jorrit Penseel and Henrique scored the go-ahead run when next batter Tieme Nahuis was hit by a pitch.
With the bases still loaded and no outs, a pitching-change followed.
Lefthander Bas Timmer took over, but he was greeted with a 2-run double by Luca van Gorkum in what was his first big league at bat since June 6, 2021.
Last season, Van Gorkum made two pitching-appearances in the main-squad of Pirates, but then didn't get an at bat.
With runners on second and third base, a wild pitch by Timmer led to the next run.
Hereafter, Timmer struckout Alex Madera, but a passed ball then enabled Van Gorkum to score and emptied the bases.
When Timmer then walked Jason Jakobus, DSS/Kinheim's Head Coach Etienne Meijer came out again to make another pitching-change.
Mathijs Oosterbeek was inserted and he first got a foul pop-fly, but then gave up a runscoring double to Denzel Richardson in his second at bat in the inning.
A grounder ended the long at bat, but Pirates had taken a 7-1 lead.
That eyed to be comfortable and Pirates appeared to be en route to a 10-run difference victory.
But the team was kept scoreless in the remainder of the game, thanks to solid pitching by Mathijs Oosterbeek.
In the next five innings, the righthander struckout four batters and got only four baserunners, with only one of them getting into scoring position.
Oosterbeek gave up an one-out single to Jorrit Penseel in the third, but was forced out on a grounder by Tieme Nahuis, who stranded on first base.
In the fifth inning, Oosterbeek gave up a lead-off single to Denzel Richardson, but three grounders followed.
Richardson was the lone runner to get into scoring position, but was left behind on second base.
With two outs in the seventh, Oosterbeek got his fourth baserunner when Richardson singled again.
This time, he stranded on first base.
Trailing 7-1, DSS/Kinheim got the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom off the second inning.
After the first two batters were retired, Nelmerson Angela gave up singles to Matis Crouwel and Amarensio Franka.
Next batter Nick Hofer hit a grounder to short stop Duco Nuijten.
Instead of throwing the ball to first base, Nuijten opted to throw it to second base in an attempt to force out Franka.
But he was safe and so, the bases were loaded.
Another force play-grounder then ended the at bat.
The home-team scored twice in the bottom of the third on four basehits.
Urving Kemp led off with a double, moved on a following single by Sem Kuijper and scored on a sacrifice fly by Koen Halderman.
Hereafter, Kuijper scored the next run on a double by his brother Donny Kuijper.
Mees Robberse then accounted for the fourth basehit in this at bat.
With runners on second and third base, it was leftfielder Jason Jakobus, who made the next two outs.
First, he caught a hit by Matis Crouwel, then a line drive off the bat of Amarensio Franka.
DSS/Kinheim scored another run in the fourth.
Nick Hofer led off with a bunt-single, then scored on a double by Julian Toppen.
That ended the afternoon for Nelmerson Angela, who was relieved by Ben Meyer.
With Toppen on second base and Urving Kemp in the batter's box, rookie catcher Tieme Nahuis made a pick-off attempt.
However, the ball ended up in centerfield and Toppen tried to advance to third base on the throwing error.
But centerfielder Roelie Henrique got the ball in time to third baseman Jorrit Penseel, who tagged out Toppen, after he had overslid the base.
For the scorers amongst us, this is not a caught stealing, as the runner tried to advance on an error.
And the error is also not recorded, as the runner didn't reach the next base, but instead was eliminated in a new play.
With one out, Meyer walked Kemp, but then was supported with a double play.
DSS/Kinheim got another scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning when it got the bases loaded.
With two outs, Ben Meyer walked Mees Robberse, Matis Crouwel and Amarensio Franka.
With three runners on base, Maickel Rietel became the next Pirates-pitcher and he got an inning-ending flyout.
The home-team then came within one run in the bottom of the sixth off of Rietel.
He gave up a lead-off single to Julian Toppen.
Hereafter, Urving Kemp also singled and when that was followed by an outfield-error, Toppen was able to score.
Kemp ended up second base, then stole third base and scored on a single by Sem Kuijper.
With the score now only being 7-6, Pirates Head Coach Mervin Gario came out to make another pitching change.
Michael Bennett, who also is the Pitching Coach, then took the mound and had a strong closing.
First, Kuijper was caught stealing, then a grounder and strikeout followed.
In the eighth inning, Finn Blokker took over the pitching from Mathijs Oosterbeek, who had done very well for DSS/Kinheim.
Blokker gave up a lead-off bunt-single by Duco Nuijten, but he was eliminated in an inning-ending double play.
Robyn Clara then pitched the ninth inning for the home-team.
Although the righthander got three baserunners, he also kept Pirates scoreless.
Clara gave up a lead-off single to Luca van Gorkum, but he was forced out on a bunt by Alex Madera, who was caught stealing shortly thereafter.
With two outs, a walk for pinch-hitter Oliver van der Wijst Severino followed.
Next batter Kenny Berkenbosch then hit a line drive, but that was caught by third baseman Mees Robberse.
DSS/Kinheim got the tying run on third base in the bottom off the seventh.
Mees Robberse led off with a single and moved to second base via a sacrifice bunt by Matis Crouwel.
He then advanced to third base when catcher Tieme Nahuis needed to complete a strikeout at first base.
But Robberse stranded at third base, as a grounder followed.
DSS/Kinheim didn't get another baserunner, as Michael Bennett retired the side in the eighth and ninth, closing the game with a strikeout.
Although Amsterdam Pirates had been ahead from the second inning on, starting pitcher Nelmerson Angela had not thrown the necessary five complete innings to become the winning pitcher.
According to Rule 9.17 b, in a situation like this, the win mostly goes to the next pitcher.
However, when there is more than one reliever, it is up to the Official Scorer(s) to determine which of the pitchers was the most effective.
And that clearly was Bennett and so he was credited with the win in today's game.
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Amsterdam Pirates completes sweep vs. DSS/Kinheim with narrow win
HAARLEM (Neth.) -
Amsterdam Pirates trailed 1-0, then rallied for seven runs in the second inning and appeared to be en route to a mercy-rule victory against DSS/Kinheim on a cold Sunday-afternoon (April 16).
However, Pirates was kept scoreless in the remainder of the game and DSS/Kinheim managed to come back.
In the end, Pirates won only 7-6, but that was enough to complete a 3-game sweep.
In the second game on Saturday, Pirates won only 1-0, thanks to a wild pitch.
In the series-opener on Thursday-evening, Pirates won with a 6-1 score.