European Cup 2014: Dutch show two faces

In tonight’s game, the Dutch squad showed two faces. One that gave seven runs in three innings and one that could turn around the game.

Dutch starter Orlando Yntema gave up three runs in the first inning on two singles by Daniel Martinez and Oscar D. Angulo and a homerun by Jesus E. Golindano.

Golindano: three run homerun

The Dutch got on the board in the same inning on a solo homer by Randolph Oduber.

In the second, Yntema kept the Spanish team from scoring despite allowing a double. The Dutch didn’t score either in the second inning.

Orlando Yntema was hit hard in the third again. Two doubles and a homerun drove in another three runs. That was the sign for Steve Janssen to pull Yntema and replace him with Tom Stuifbergen. Stuifbergen retired two batters before giving up a solo homer to cathcer Blake Ochoa.

In their third at bat the Dutch got back into the game when Randolph Oduber led off with a homer again. Curt Smith drew a walk and stole second base; and he is not even the fastest guy around. Gianison Boekhoudt hit a groundball to center field on which Smith scored. Boekhoudt advanced on a wild pitch by relief pitcher Andrez E. Perez. Kalian Sams also drew a walk and together with Boekhoudt, he advanced a base on a passed ball. So with two runners in scoring position Shawn Zarraga drew another walk to load the bases. Yurendell de Caster walked home the third run of the inning when Perez had some control issues. The two biggest innings had to come.

The fourth was one of those big innings. Once again Randolph Oduber led off, this time with a single. He advanced to second when Hainley Statia was hit by a pitch. Oduber advanced once more when Curt Smith hit a fly out towards right field. A singles by Gianison Boekhoudt and Kalian Sams drove in Randolph Oduber for the fifth run of the Dutch. With the bases loaded Shawn Zarraga walked in the tying run. When Yurendell de Caster hit a grand slam for the 10-7 lead, the Dutch never looked back.

In the fifth, a double (by Randolph Oduber, who led off again), a couple of singles, a couple of walks and a couple of errors drove in three more runs for the Orange squad.

In the sixth inning, the Dutch scored six more runs to reach the final score of 19-7.

Wendell Floranus, who entered the game in the fifth and got out of a bases loaded jam then, finished the game.

The Dutch pitching wasn’t sharp in the first innings. But the team showed some resilience by turning the game around.

Orlando Yntema pitched two full innings and was pulled in the third after giving up three more runs. His successor, Tom Stuifbergen pitched two frames and allowed a run but then kept the door shut and retired four batters with a strikeout.

Tom Stuifbergen is coming back from Tommy John Surgery.

Wendell Floranus pitched the remaining three innings and allowed a hit, hit a batter with a pitch, walked two and fanned two.

The best batter for the Dutch team was Randolph Oduber, who went 5 for 5 with two homeruns, a double and a single. He scored five times and drove in two runs.

Randolph Oduber had a career day

At least I got off with a shock tonight. It was for a good reason that I warned for the Spanish team the other day.