Intercontinental Cup
	Netherlands vs. Cuba November 9, 2006

Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2006 by Marco Stoovelaar

Dutch open IC with small loss vs. Cuba
Nederlands | Box Score | Play-by-Play
TAICHUNG (Taiwan) - Despite leading twice, the Dutch National Baseball Team opened the Intercontinental Cup in Chinese Taipei on Thursday-morning with a small 3-2 loss against Cuba, which won the last edition of the event in 2002.

The Dutch team, which played a good game, took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Eugene Kingsale (fielder's choice) scored on a double by Sharnol Adriana, but Cuba came alongside immediately in its half of the third at bat when Michel Enríquez Tamayo scored. In the first inning, Cuba had left three runners behind. Dutch starter Rob Cordemans walked the first two batters he faced, but then the lead runner was caught stealing. A two-out single and another walk then loaded the bases, but Cordemans ended the at bat by striking out Yoandry Urgelles Romay.
In the fifth inning, the Dutch team re-took the lead. Danny Rombley then doubled, advanced on a grounder by Michael Duursma and scored on a single by Eugene Kingsale, but then Raily Legito grounded into a double play to end the inning.
However, Cuba tied the score again in the sixth inning when Ariel Pestano Valdés homered. Hereafter, Dutch starter Rob Cordemans was relieved by rookie Leon Boyd, who gave up a third Cuban run in the seventh inning on back-to-back doubles by Alexander Mayeta Kerr (who was 3-for4) and Frederich Cepeda Cruz. These followed a double play, after Michel Enríquez Tamayo had led off with a single. Cordemans struckout three and walked five batters, while giving up six basehits in 5 1/3 inning. Boyd gave up four hits in the 1 2/3 inning he threw. After Boyd gave up a lead-off single to Osmani Urrutia Ramírez in the eighth inning, Michiel van Kampen took over and retired the next three batters.
In the ninth inning, closer Pedro Luis Lazo Iglesias took over for starter Adiel Palma López, who struckout seven and gave up only three hits in the eight innings he pitched. In the ninth, Lazo hit lead-off hitter Sharnol Adriana with a pitch, who then advanced on an one-out single by Sidney de Jong. Dirk van 't Kloosetr was brought in to pinch-run at second base for Adriana, but then Ivanon Coffie and Percy Isenia flied out to end the game.

On the first day of competition, Japan won 4-3 in 10 innings vs. Australia, while Korea shutout the Philippines, which had only one basehit, 10-0 in 6 1/2. In the evening, after the Opening Ceremony, Italy surprised with a big 13-3 win vs. host Chinese Taipei, scoring six runs in the third and four in the ninth. Italy had 19 basehits, including seven doubles.
Three Dutch game officials also had their first assignment. Umpire Edwin van den Berk was at first base in the Australia vs. Japan game, where Jan Esselman was one of the two Technical Commissioners. Official Scorer Feiko Drost was in charge of the Taiwan vs. Italy game.
(November 9)

Complete Play-by-Play Cuba vs. Netherlands (Game One)
Box Score Cuba vs. Netherlands (Game One)