Pirates-starter Robert van der Pol was assisted by a double play in the second inning, but then an error followed on a grounder by Martijn Meeuwis, who later got into scoring position on a single by Nick Makkinje. The inning, however, ended with a flyout.
In the third inning, Ralph Milliard led off for HCAW with a double, then was caught stealing at third base.
Pirates broke open the game in the third at bat. Remco Draijer led off with a walk and Derick Francisca followed with a single. After the two advanced on a sac-bunt by Roderick Simon, the bases were loaded by HCAW-starter Jurjen van Zijl when he walked Tyson Arishenkoff intentionally. The set-up for the force play failed, as Van Zijl gave up a 2-run single to Boudewijn van Elswijk, followed by an RBI-single by Fausto Álvarez to make it 3-0.

...Tyson Arishenkoff... ...starts triple play... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

Triple Play Facts

Today's triple play was the second by Pirates in the big league. The first time that Pirates turned a triple play (also at home) was on May 18, 2002 vs. Neptunus. Four years ago, Mark Kan completed the triple play and today was the winning pitcher. In 2002, as well as today, Henk Meerleveld was one of the umpires. This was the third big league triple play on the new Pirates Complex. On May 7, 2000, HCAW made the first at Sporpark Ookmeer. This was the eleventh big league triple play in the last seventeen years.

The fourth inning brought one of the two defensive highlights of the game. Robert van der Pol walked lead-off hitter Bart Gabriëls and was relieved by Robin Franken. The lefthander gave up a single to Gino Henson, then a bunt-single to Martijn Meeuwis, which loaded the bases. Next, Nick Makkinje lined to short stop Tyson Arishenkoff, who had barely time to turn around his glove, made an attempt to catch the ball, but was unsuccessful. Arishenkoff reacted alertly and threw the ball to second baseman Björn Henrichs to force out Meeuwis. On the line drive and the play to second base, Gabriëls left for home plate. After tagging out Meeuwis, Henrichs threw the ball to catcher Roderick Simon, who tagged Gabriëls for the second out. Then, Gino Henson left for third base. Simon reacted quickly, ran towards the short stop-position and tagged out Henson to complete a unique triple play. Looking back to the situation, it could have been only a double play, as the force play was lifted when the putout at home was made.

In the fifth inning, HCAW was able to come back with a run off new pitcher Pim Walsma, who made his first big league-appearance since May 13. The righthander however started by walking the first two batters he faced, Dimitri Leon and Ralph Milliard, but then struckout next batter Ronald Jaarsma, before loading the bases when he also walked Sidney de Jong. Next, Milliard was able to score on a wild pitch. Now with runners on first and second base, a baserunning mistake by Sidney de Jong resulted in the second putout. De Jong was off first base and on his way to second where Milliard still was. Pirates-catcher Roderick Simon again reacted alertly, ran across the infield and tagged both runners, who were now on second base. According to the rules, De Jong was called out, as the preceeding runner has the right on the base. The inning then ended with a flyout.
In the home fifth, Pirates added a run. Fausto Álvarez led off with a deep double, moved on a sac-bunt by Kevin Gerard and scored on a wild pitch.

...Mark Kan... ...winning pitcher... (Photo: Marco Stoovelaar)

In the sixth inning, HCAW again got the bases loaded, but failed to score, because of another fine defensive play by Pirates. With one out, Gino Henson singled and Martijn Meeuwis and Nick Makkinje walked. Pim Walsma was relieved and Mark Kan took over with the bases loaded. Dimitri Leon then grounded to short stop Tyson Arishenkoff, who turned a double play.

HCAW, which today played without utility player Rodney Michel, then also got a good defensive play in the sixth inning. Derick Francisca led off with a single, but was picked off first base by catcher Sidney de Jong.
The second defensive highlight of the game came in the seventh inning when Pirates-leftfielder Derick Francisca made an outstanding catch on a deep line drive by Sidney de Jong. Earlier in the game, Francisca had another fine attempt, but then barely lost control of the ball after a diving catch.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Pirates added two insurance runs. Cliff Foster, who had taken over for Jurjen van Zijl in the previous inning, started the seventh with a walk for Kevin Gerard, who advanced to second base on a sac-bunt by Björn Henrichs. Next, Bobbie van Duuren was hit by a pitch, followed by a force play-grounder. With two outs, the bases were loaded when Derick Francisca also was hit by a pitch. That initially wasn't clear, as it sounded like the ball hit the bat, but after a conference between the three umpires, Francisca was awarded first base. Next batter Roderick Simon then followed with a 2-run single to increase the lead to 6-1. Foster was relieved by Kenny Berkenbosch, who ended the inning with a pop-fly.

HCAW was unable to come back, as Mark Kan threw 3 2/3 strong innings in which he allowed only one baserunner. After retiring nine batters in a row, Kan gave up a 2-out single to Dimitri Leon in the ninth, but the game then ended with a groundout. As starter Robert van der Pol didn't threw the required five innings, reliever Mark Kan was credited with the win by Official Scorer Leo van den Brun, who also had a busy day keeping records of this game. With all the action going on, this game was characteristic for this season, which is marked by a lot of unusual situations. So far, this is a wonderful season for the game rules, as Umpires and Official Scorers, but also players and coaches, both rookies and veterans, have to remain concentrated the entire game and know the rules. You never know what the next action will be. And that makes baseball the wonderful sport it is.
(June 17)

ADO-starter Rob Cordemans dominated for eight innings. The veteran righthander gave up only four basehits in that span and struckout 12 batters. Amongst them the 1000th in his career and that milestone was reached in the second inning when he struckout Marwin Kleinmoedig to end the at bat. Cordemans, however, was supported with only run and that, in the end, wasn't enough. Two errors set up the two runs for Sparta/Feyenoord.
ADO scored its lone run in the second inning. Harvey Monte then led off with a single off starter Satoru Fujii and stole second base. With two outs, Monte scored on a single by Michel Korzeniewski. Next batter Shurty Tremus walked, but then Satoru Fujii ended the inning with a groundout and retired eight batters in a row. The Japanese righthander also gave up only seven basehit and struckout eight batters in his 8 2/3 inning, but also walked seven batters. Despite reaching the bases frequently, ADO was unable to add more runs. The team stranded 16 runners, including the bases loaded twice late in the game.
Sparta/Feyenoord came alongside in the fourth at bat. Second baseman Berry van Driel committed an error on a grounder by lead-off hitter Ramphis Trinidad, who then stole second base. After two flyouts, Trinidad scored the tying run on a single by Jeroen Hermans.

Both teams left runners in scoring position from the sixth through ninth inning. ADO got its lead-off hitter on second base with one out in the sixth, but nothing happened.
In the seventh inning, Maikel Benner singled with one out and moved on a grounder. After the next batter walked, Benner tried to score on a single by Jermaine Esprit, but was thrown out at the plate.
In the eighth inning, ADO got the bases loaded with only one out. But then, Satoru Fujii struckout pinch-hitter Kalian Sams. The inning ended when Maikel Benner flied out.
In the ninth, the team from The Hague again had three runners on, this time with two outs. With a runner on first and two outs, Fujii walked the next two batters and was relieved by Sander Klop. Percy Isenia then grounded out to end the inning.
Sparta/Feyenoord also got scoring opportunities. In the sixth inning, Ramphis Trinidad singled with one out, but then pinch-runner Sil Wagenaar was picked off first base by Rob Cordemans. Two singles followed, but a pop-fly ended the inning.
In the ninth inning, Jurrian Koks took over the pitching for Cordemans. He walked Jeffrey Sprott with one out, who advanced to third base on a 2-out single by Sjoerd Hermans, but this time a groundout ended the at bat, resulting in extra innings.

Again, it was ADO that got the most chances to score a run. In the eleventh inning, Quensley Bazoer led off with a bunt-single, followed by an infield-hit by Shurty Tremus, but then two force play-grounders followed. A flyout ended the opportunity.
In the twelfth, Harvey Monte singled with one out and stole second base. Kalian Sams then struckout and Maikel Benner was walked intentionally. The inning ended when Sander Klop struckout Quensley Bazoer.
In the home 12th, Jurrian Koks got two quick outs. A grounder by Orson Slaats appeared to become the final out of the game, but then short stop Shurty Tremus made a fielding error. Next batter Dwayne Kemp then drove the ball into deep centerfield for a game-winning, walk-off double, giving Sparta/Feyenoord a 2-1 win.
For the second time, Koks took over, but lost. ADO's regular closer Robin van Doornspeek is currently unable to throw due to an injury.

ADO outhit Sparta/Feyenoord 10-6, but was unable to bring its runners home. The team stranded 16 runners, including nine in scoring position. ADO was only 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position. ADO's two pitchers struckout 15 batters and walked only one. Sparta/Feyenoord's two pitchers struckout 12 batters, including six for ADO's number six spot in the batting order: three for James Rutherford and three for his replacement Kalian Sams.
(June 17)

The game was scoreless for seven innings, but Kinheim got the best chances early in the game. In the first inning, Dirk van 't Klooster was on first base with two outs when Almere-starter René Rijst walked next batters Tjerk Smeets and Edward Illidge. But then Roel Koolen flied out.
In the second inning, Kinheim left a runner on second base.

From the third through seventh inning, both teams didn't reach base much. In that period, veteran pitcher René Rijst threw five solid innings against Kinheim, which is one of his former teams. Rijst, who is playing in his 25th big league-season, struckout three batters in these five innings and allowed only three baserunners and retired nine in a row from the third through fifth inning.
Kinheim's starter Patrick Beljaards had no problems in his first seven innings. In the second inning, he was supported with a double play. In the fourth and fith inning, the lefthander ended the at bat with a strikeout, while Almere had runners in scoring position.

The decision of this game fell in the eighth inning. In the top of the eighth, Denny Beljaards walked with one out for Kinheim. A grounder by next batter Danny Rombley ended in a throwing error by first baseman Ricky Daal and put runners on second and third base. René Rijst then walked René Cremer intentionally to load the bases. Lefthander Nick Veltkamp was then brought in to face lefthanded hitting Dirk van 't Klooster. A successful decision, as Van 't Klooster flied out, leaving the bases loaded. Veltkamp was relieved by Forstin Coenraad, who faced Tjerk Smeets. With two outs, Smeets grouded to third for an apparent third out, but a throwing error by Sidney Ensermo gave Kinheim a 2-0 lead.

In the home eighth, Almere reacted with four runs. Patrick Beljaards, who had dominated in the first seven innings, gave up a lead-off double to Sidney Ensermo, then a bunt-single to Ricky Daal, which was followed by a throwing error from third baseman Wouter Heemskerk that enabled Ensermo to score. Daal was replaced by pinch-runner Manuel Dame, while Beljaards was relieved by Michiel van Kampen. Shaldimar Daantji then struckout out on a foul-bunt, but next batter Randy Daal was hit by a pitch. Daal was forced out on a force play-grounder by Ivanon Coffie, but then Bryan Engelhardt followed with a 3-run homerun to give Almere a 4-2 lead. That also became the final score, as Forstin Coenraad retired the side in the ninth.
Kinheim had only four basehits in this game, three of which were hit by René Cremer.
(June 17)

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