Netherlands vs. USA
...Didi Gregorius (#18) is greeted by Jonathan Schoop...
...after his lead-off homerun in the first inning...
(© Photo: World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)) |
The Netherlands was off to a good start by scoring twice in the top of the first inning.
But that also were to be the lone Orange-runs in this game.
The USA came alongside immediately in its first at bat and took the lead by scoring three runs in the third inning.
From the seventh inning on, the Americans added seven more runs to reach a mercy-rule run-difference and record a convincing 12-2 victory.
The Netherlands got on the board quickly, as Didi Gregorius led off the game by hitting a homerun on the first pitch he saw from Casey Lawrence.
The righthander pitched in the Major League in 2017-2018 and 2022-2023 for Toronto Blue Jays (twice), Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals.
In 2019, Lawrence played for Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the professional Japanese league (NPB).
In February of this year, Lawrence returned to the Seattle-organization and played in Triple-A this season, where he was 11-11 in 29 games.
He currently is a Free Agent.
After giving up the lead-off homerun to Gregorius, Lawrence gave up an infield-hit to Jonathan Schoop, who then advanced on a wild pitch and was awarded third base on a balk.
Moments later, Schoop scored on a grounder by Juremi Profar.
Lawrence recovered, as he retired nine consecutive batters, beginning with the grounder by Profar, including four strikeouts.
In the meantime, his teammates came alongside and took over the lead.
In the bottom of the first inning, the USA came alongside.
Orange-starter Kaj Timmermans gave up a lead-off single to Chandler Simpson, but then was supported with a double play.
But hereafter, the righthander gave up back-to-back homeruns to Luke Ritter and Ryan Ward, which equaled the score.
Ritter and Ward both play in the Minor Leagues since 2019.
Ritter in the New York Mets-organization, playing in Triple-A this year, hitting 26 homeruns.
Ward plays in the Los Angeles Dodgers-organization.
He also played at the Triple-A level this year and belted 33 homeruns.
...Termarr Johnson scores for the USA in the 7th inning...
...The second baseman scored three runs...
(© Photo: World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)) |
The Netherlands was retired in order in the second and third inning, as was the USA in the second.
But in the bottom of the third, the Americans struck with a 3-run rally.
Kaj Timmermans walked lead-off hitter Termarr Johnson, then gave up a comeback bunt-single to Chandler Simpson.
That was followed by a runscoring single by Matt Shaw, which gave the USA a 3-2 lead.
Another run was added via a sacrifice fly by Luke Ritter and that marked the end for Timmermans.
He was relieved by Eric Mendez Matos, who began with a strikeout, but then walked Carson Williams and gave up an RBI-double to Justin Crawford.
That brought in Shaw, but Williams, who also tried to score, was eliminated at the plate.
That ended the at bat, but the USA now led 5-2.
In the top of the fourth, the Netherlands reached base again for the first time since the first inning.
With one out, Hendrik Clementina and Sharlon Schoop both singled, which led to a pitching change.
Antonio Menendez took over and got an inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the fifth, Netherlands-Manager Evert-Jan 't Hoen also went to the bullpen again.
After Eric Mendez Matos had given up an one-out single, he followed with a strikeout, but then was replaced by Dylan Farley.
The lefthander closed the inning with a strikeout.
In the top of the sixth, the Netherlands stranded another runner in scoring position.
With two outs, Hendrik Clementina and Sharlon Schoop again both singled, but again, the team was unable to score.
Both were left behind, as Denzel Richardson struckout.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Dylan Farley was supported with a double play, which was the result of bad baserunning.
With Carson Williams (walk) on first base and one out, Colby Thomas singled.
However, he tried to advance to second base, where he was thrown out by centerfielder Ray-Patrick Didder.
In the meantime, Williams had advanced to third base.
While Thomas was eliminated at second base, Williams was off third base, returned too late and was also eliminated, thanks to a heads up play by the Schoop-brothers.
After having tagged out Thomas at second base, Jonathan Schoop threw the ball to third baseman Sharlon Schoop, who tagged out Williams.
...Matt Shaw is greeted by 3B Coach Dino Ebel after...
...hitting his 3-run walk-off homerun for the USA...
...Looking on is Mexican 3B Umpire Alan Izaguirre...
(© Photo: World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)) |
With a 5-2 lead, Spencer Patton took over the American pitching in the top of the seventh inning.
The righthander retired the side.
The 36-year old Patton pitched six seasons in the Major League for Texas Rangers (2014-2015), Chicago Cubs (2016), again Rangers (2021-2022) and Oakland Athletics (2023).
In between (2017-2020), he pitched in Japan for Yokohama DeNa BayStars.
This year, Patton played in Mexico for Olmecas de Tabasco, where he was 4-1 as reliever, pitching in 42 games.
There, he was a teammate of Yoanni Yera and Roel Santos, who are now in Taiwan with Cuba.
In the bottom of the seventh, the USA took more distance by adding four more runs.
Dylan Farley got the bases loaded quickly via a walk, bunt-single and another walk.
With three runners on base, Scott Prins took over the pitching, but he was greeted with a baseclearing, 3-run double by Matt Shaw.
Hereafter, Shaw advanced to third base on a single by Luke Ritter and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Ward.
In the top of the eighth, Austin Vernon was on the mound for the American team and also retired the side.
Since 2021, the righthander plays in the MInors for Tampa Bay Rays.
This year, he appeared in 46 games (30 as closer) in Double-A and was 2-3 with nine saves.
With the USA leading 9-2, Pim Vijfvinkel became the fifth Orange-pitcher in the top of the eighth inning.
He got a lead-off grounder, but then walked the next two batters.
That brought powerhitter Matt Shaw in the batters-box and he again was successful, as he connected for a 3-run walk-off homerun.
With the homerun, the lead increased to 12-2 and ended the game via the mercy-rule.
Shaw was 4-for-5 and only missed a triple to hit-for-the-cycle.
He scored three runs, batted in seven and also had a stolen base.
In the opener against Puerto Rico, Shaw was 3-for-3.
The 23-year old Shaw plays in the Minor League for Chicago Cubs since last year after being a first round draft-choice.
Shaw promoted quickly.
In 2023, the infielder played in Rookie League, Single-A and Double-A.
This year, he began in Double-A and promoted to Triple-A in August and then played in 35 games for Iowa Cubs.
He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Southern League (AA).
Manager of Team USA is former longtime Major League-player and -Manager Mike Scioscia.
The former catcher played thirteen seasons (1980-1992) for Los Angeles Dodgers with whom he won the World Series in 1981 and 1988.
In all these seasons, legendary Tommy Lasorda was the Manager.
Scioscia was the prime catcher of pitching legend Fernando Valenzuela, who played for the team in 1980-1990.
Valenzuela passed away on October 22 at age 63.
After his playing career, Scioscia was a coach of the Dodger Major League-team in 1997 and 1998.
Scioscia made his Managerial debut in 2000 with was Anaheim Angels (whose former name was California Angels through 1996).
Scioscia was successful and remained Manager for 19 seasons of the team, which was renamed in Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2005 and then in Los Angeles Angels, which is the current name since 2016.
In 2002, Scioscia won the World Series as Manager.
He was voted American League Manager of the Year in 2002 and 2009.
In 2021, Scioscia also was the Manager of the American Team in 2021 during the Olympic Games in Tokyo (Japan), where it won silver.
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...Left: Carson Williams is tagged out by catcher Hendrik Clementina in the 3rd inning...
...Coaching the runner is Matt Shaw (#1), while German Umpire Tim Meyer looks into the actiion...
...Right: Team USA Manager Mike Scioscia during a press-conference before the tournament...
(© Both Photos: World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)) |
Playing for the Netherlands in this game were:
Didi Gregorius (SS, 1-for-4, run, RBI, homerun), Jonathan Schoop (2B, 1-for-4, run), Juremi Profar (1B, 0-for-4, RBI), Hendrik Clementina (C, 2-for-3), Sharlon Schoop (3B, 2-for-3), Denzel Richardson (RF, 0-for-3), Eugene Helder (DH, 0-for-3), Dwayne Kemp (LF, 0-for-3), Ray-Patrick Didder (CF, 1-for-3) and pitchers Kaj Timmermans, Eric Mendez Matos, Dylan Farley, Scott Prins and Pim Vijfvinkel.
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Netherlands Team suffers big mercy-rule loss vs. USA in Game 2 Premier12
TEPIC, Nayarit / ZAPOPAN/GUADALAJARA, Jalisco (Mexico) -
The Netherlands Baseball Team was handed a big 12-2 mercy-rule loss by the USA in its second game of the third edition of the Premier12 on Sunday-afternoon (November 10).
A day earlier, the Netherlands Kingdom Team opened the global event with a spectacular come-from-behind 9-8 victory in a 10-inning thriller against Panama.
The American team had begun with an 1-0 loss against Puerto Rico.
Also today, Panama recovered from the loss against the Netherlands by winning 4-2 against Venezuela.
With almost 400,000 inhabitants, Tepic is the capital and largest city of the State of Nayarit in western Mexico and borders Jalisco, where Zapopan/Guadalajara are located, the other playing site during the Premier12.
The city is situated at an altitude of 915 metres (3,002 feet) above sea level, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic and has three volcanoes in the neighborhood.
Amongst the landmarks in or near Tepic are the Templo de La Cruz de Zacate, which dates from 1619, the 18th century historic monument Catedral de la Asunción de María de Tepic and the Ruins of Jauja.
The new stadium, which was jointly funded by the Mexican Federal Government and the Nayarit State Government, seats 9,480 spectators, has 10 suites, a 94-seat presidential suite and space for 20 wheelchairs.
The ballpark also has three restaurants, 31 concession-stands and four stores.
Umpires: HP-Tim Meyer (Germany), 1B-Hideto Fuke (Japan),
Game 2 - Premier12 2024.