 HOOFDDORP (Neth.) - Konica Minolta Pioniers on Sunday also won its second game of the season, but it took until the fifth inning to take a decisive lead. Trailing 1-0, the team rallied for seven runs and went on to win 11-1.
Before the game the players were introduced and the ceremonial first pitch was thrown, but then Pionier-starter Roger Kops was in command for six-plus innings and gave up only five basehits. The righthander gave up a lead-off double in the first inning to Ramphis Trinidad and saw Percy Isenia reach bease on a 2-out error, but then retired the next four batters. In the third, Shaldimar Daantji led off for Sparta/Feyenoord with a triple and scored his team's only run on a 2-out single by Harvey Monte. Hereafter, Kops dominated, retired the next eight batters in a row, before giving up an infield-hit to Harvey Monte in the sixth, but then Percy Isenia grounded into a double play. In the seventh, Kops gave up a lead-off single to pinch-hitter Patrick wabbijn and was relieved by Czech Jan Rehacek, who made his debut in a Pionier-uniform and in the Dutch big league. The Czech struckout the first two batters he faced, then ended the inning with a flyout.
Pioniers was held scoreless in the first four innings by lefthander Herman Gaarman, who gave up only two basehits. Gaarman retired the first five batters he faced and eleven of the first twelve. The only batter to reach base in the first three innings was Norbert Lokhorst, thanks to a throwing error. With two outs in the fourth, Gaarman gave up a double to Jourick Blanco. Next, Mark Duursma reached base on a close call infield-hit. The Sparta/Feyenoord-defense was convinced Duursma was out, but veteran First Base Umpire Arnold Verbrugge decided Duursma was safe in the 'bang-bang play'. As some of the fielders already were leaving the field, Duursma advanced to second base, but the inning ended when Norbert Lokhorst flied out.
While Herman Gaarman didn't ran into problems in the four innings he threw, he was replaced in the fifth inning. And just like yesterday, things then went wrong for Sparta/Feyenoord. Rudy Seebus took over, gave up four hits and was credited with six runs. He first hit lead-off batter Dè Flanegin with a pitch, then an error was made on a sac-bunt by Joey Treurniet. The two runners advanced on a sac-bunt by Jefferson Muzo, followed by an RBI-single by Michael Duursma, which tied the score. Rookie Mervin Gario then followed with a 2-run double and scored himself on a 2-out infield-hit by Jourick Blanco. After Mark Duursma also singled, Seebus was replaced by Elton Koeiman, who gave up a 2-run double to Norbert Lokhorst, followed by an RBI-single by Dè Flanegin to make it 7-1.
Three runs were then added in the sixth inning off new pitcher Ronald de Bont. Pioniers loaded the bases immediately when Joey Treurniet led off with a single and Jefferson Muzo and Michael Duursma walked. Mervin Gario, who last season played for First Divisionist Robur '58, then followed with a baseclearing, 3-run double to make it 10-1.
In the seventh inning, Sparta/Feyenoord brought in its fifth pitcher, rookie Berry van Donselaar. Norbert Lokhorst led off with an infield-hit and advanced on a following throwing error. After a pop-fly, Lokhorst scored on a double by Joey Treurniet to end the game, as the 10-run difference was reached.
(April 13)
Box Score
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