Baseball Recap Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico March 8, 2006

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2006 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch 'outpowered' by Puerto Rico in opener
Nederlands
SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - The Dutch team played a fine game and didn't went down easily, as the squad tied the score in the fifth inning, 3-3. But in the end, the powerful Major League-bats of Puerto Rico resulted in an 8-3 opening loss for the Dutch in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic.
Last year, in the quarter finals of the World Cup, which took place in The Netherlands, the Dutch squad shutout Puerto Rico, 10-0, to reach the semi final. But this was a complete different opponent, loaded with multi-million dollar Major League -players.
On the other hand, the Dutch line-up for the opening game also was impressive, as seven of the ten (including the DH) starters had professional experience (currently or in the past), including clean-up hitter Andruw Jones, the All Star centerfielder of the Atlanta Braves. The only non-pros were rightfielder Dirk van 't Klooster, catcher Sidney de Jong and starting pitcher Rob Cordemans.
On the artificial turf of Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Dutch pitchers handled the Puerto Rican pros very well, striking out nine of them. Veteran New York Yankee-centerfielder Bernie Williams (former teammate of both Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn and Dutch Hitting Coach Hensley Meulens) struckout twice. But the Dutch pitchers also gave three homeruns to Major League-veterans Javy Lopez, Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran.
However, the Dutch team kept pace with Puerto Rico very well for the first five innings, as the score was tied 3-3 at that moment. In the last four innings, the Puerto Rican All Stars showed their power and took advantage of the game.

In the first at bat, Puerto Rico immediately opened the score off starter Rob Cordemans. With one out, Ivan Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran singled, then the first scored when short stop Raily Legito made a fielding error on a grounder by Javy Lopez. Cordemans recovered from this shaky start and struckout the next two batters, Alexis Rios and Alex Cintron.
Puerto Rico doubled its lead in the third inning when Javy Lopez (former teammate of Dutch centerfielder Andruw Jones with the Atlanta Braves) homered with two outs. It marked the end for Cordemans, who was relieved by Alexander Smit.
The first seven Dutch batters were retired in order by Puerto Rican starter Joel Pineiro, but then Sidney de Jong and Raily Legito singled with one out in the home third. After a flyout, the bases were loaded when Yurendell DeCaster walked, but the inning ended when Ivanon Coffie flied out.
Puerto Rico increased its lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. With one out, Alexander Smit walked Luis Matos, gave up a single to José Valentin and hit Alex Cora with a pitch. Next, veteran Bernie Williams singled, enabling Matos to score, but a fine throw by rightfielder Dirk van 't Klooster, relayed by 2B Yurendell DeCaster, got Valentin to be thrown out at the plate. Robin van Doornspeek came in to relief Smit and ended the inning with a flyout.

In the home fourth, the Dutch team scored its first run. After Andruw Jones (he was 0-for-3) struckout, Randall Simon singled and advanced on an error in leftfield. With two outs, a grounder by Dirk van 't Klooster ended in a throwing error by short stop Alex Cintron and enabled Simon to score.
After Van Doornspeek retired the side in the fifth, the Dutch team came alongside in the home fifth. Raily Legito led off with a double. The inning appeared to become unsuccessful as Eugene Kingsale's bunt was caught and Yurendell DeCaster flied out. But then Ivanon Coffie singled and Legito was able to score from second base. Next, Willie Collazo, who had relieved Pineiro at the start of the inning, Pineiro pitched around Andruw Jones and walked the powerhitter, but then a grounder by Randall Simon ended in a throwing error and the tying run. Collazo was relieved by Orlando Roman and he ended the inning when Sharnol Adriana flied out.
Puerto Rico came back immediately. Jair Jurrjens took over the pitching from Van Doornspeek, but he was greeted with a single by Alex Cintron and a ground-rule double by Luis Matos. Cintron then scored on a sac-fly by José Valentin, which was followed by a squeeze sac-bunt by Alex Cora on which Matos scored.
In the home sixth, the Dutch got on base again and had runners on first and second with one out when a grounder by Eugene Kingsale ended in a double play with putouts being made on third and second base.

Ivan 'Pudge' Rodriguez made it 6-3 in Puerto Rico's favor when he led off the seventh inning with a homerun. After Dave Draijer came in to relief Jair Jurrjens, next batter Carlos Beltran also homered. Dutch Manager Robert Eenhoorn then argued balls and strikes with Home Plate Umpire Kevin Causey and was ejected. Next batter Javy Lopez was then hit by a pitch, after which Draijer was warned. Draijer then retired three of the next four batters to end the inning.
Puerto Rico added another run in the ninth. David Bergman, who relieved Draijer in the previous inning and then gave up two singles, now gave up a lead-off double to Ricky Ledee, who scored on a one-out double by Luis Matos to make it 8-3.
While the Dutch team had only five hits and Puerto Rico had 14, the Dutch certainly wasn't the lesser team. Puerto Rico, consisting of all Major League-players, got their hits at the right time with runners on base and having the power to go for extra basehits.
(March 8)

Box Score
Complete Play-by-Play Game One Netherlands vs. Puerto Rico

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