 HAVANA (Cuba) - Four days after arriving in Cuban capital Havana, DOOR Neptunus today played its first of two games. Initially, Neptunus was to play on Monday-evening, but that was changed. Today, Neptunus met an All Star-Team of Ciudad Habana, played a 6-inning game and lost 2-0.
At the Changa Maderos Stadium in Havana, the game's only runs were already scored by the first two batters of the Cuban team.
Neptunus produced only two basehits off of five different pitchers, but played a good game. It got its biggest scoring opportunity in the fifth inning when it got the bases loaded with two outs, but then failed to score.
After the Neptunus-side was retired in the opening at bat, Neptunus-starter Diegomar Markwell walked lead-off batter Yasmani López, then gave up a 2-run homerun to next batter José Cuesta on an 0-1 count.
The Cubans did reach base frequently hereafter, but the Neptunian defense, which committed only one error, didn't gave up more runs.
After giving up the homerun, Markwell got two outs on flyout to centerfield, then saw two batters reach base with a walk and after an error, but ended the at bat with a grounder, then retired the side in the next at bat.
Kevin Heystek took over in the third inning, got three quick outs, but then gave up two singles to start the fourth inning.
However, a force play resulted in the first out, then catcher Martijn Meeuwis caught a runner stealing and a comeback-grounder to Heystek ended the inning.
In the fifth, Gregory Gustina became the third Neptunus-pitcher. With one out, he gave up two singles, but then a strikeout and a pop-up prevented more Cuban runs.
When Martijn Meeuwis singled with one out in the second inning, Havana immediately went to the bullpen to get out of the inning.
In the third, rookie Mike Bazuin doubled with one out and Benjamin Dille walked with two outs, but then Raily Legito flied out, ending the at bat.
In the fourth, Lennart Koster led off with a walk, but then three outs followed.
In the sixth, new pitcher César López walked both Jeroen Sluijter and Mike Bazuin and was replaced immediately.
Hector Galindo took over, saw the two runners move on a sac-bunt by Gene Kingsale, then struckout next batter Benjamin Dille, but loaded the bases by walking Raily Legito.
With the bases loaded, the inning ended when Lennart Koster flied out.
(March 11)
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