Holland Series 2014: Game 2 (slugfest with only one homerun)
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After having won the first game of the best of seven series, L&D Amsterdam Pirates started game two in similar fashion.
With one out and runners on third and second in the second inning, Percy Isenia drew a walk on a 3-2 count when Orlando Yntema threw a wild pitch. Bas Nooij scored from third and Dave Draijer advanced to third. This inning turned out to be a messy one in which L&D Amsterdam Pirates scored three more runs for a 4-0 lead. Amsterdam scored two more runs in the fourth and Neptunus did something back in the very same inning when Dwayne Kemp scored Neptunus’ first run on a fielding error. In that very same inning, a bench clearing brawl occured which resulted in the ejection of Diegomar Markwell (DOOR Neptunus) and Chris Mowday (L&D Amsterdam Pirates).
The fifth inning was the biggest one for both sides. L&D Amsterdam Pirates started the inning with scoring five runs to take an 11-1 lead. All signs pointed towards a mercy rule ending of the game. But Neptunus didn’t want to cooperate as they scored five runs in their fifth at bat too.
In that fifth at bat, Kalian Sams was ejected after he criticized the homeplate umpire’s decisions. His manager Evert- Jan ‘t Hoen followed swiftly. This appeared to be the final mental blow for Neptunus. They managed to score one more run in the sixth inning but after that, there was no more gas in the tank. L&D Amsterdam Pirates scored three more runs in the seventh and three more in the ninth inning to reach the final score of 17-7.
L&D Amsterdam Pirates collected eightteen hits, scored seventeen runs and had sixteen RBI.
Best hitter for Amsterdam was Roelie Henrique, who went 4 for 5 with two runs batted in, a run scored and two walks. Most effective hitter was Rachid Gerard. He went 2 for 4 but drove in five runs with two doubles. He also scored two runs himself.
DOOR Neptunus on their turn, scored seven runs on twelve hits and had six runs batted in.
Dwayne Kemp was the most effective hitter and had the best batting average. He went 3 for 4 and drove in four runs with a grandslam homerun in the fifth inning.
Dwayne Kemp: Grandslam homerun (photo: courtesy of Henk Seppen)
Starting pitcher for L&D Amsterdam Pirates was Rob Cordemans. Just like the championship game of the European Cup, he lasted four innings in which he threw 72 pitches. He allowed one run on six hits . He didn’t give up a walk but fanned five. His replacement, Jos de Jong lasted only 0.2 innings. He couldn’t stop Netpunus from scoring five runs on four hits. Jurrian Koks entered the game in relief and pitched the remaining innings. In 4.1 innings, he allowed one run on two hits. He gave up two walks and struck out two.
Jurrian Koks pitched 4.1 innings for the win (photo: courtesy of Henk Seppen)
Orlando Yntema started the game for Neptunus. In four innings he allowed nine earned runs on eight hits. He walked three batters and didn’t get a strikeout.
Kevin Kelly managed to get one out in the fifth inning, but gave up two runs on two hits. Kelly gave up one walk and didn’t get a strikeout. After Kelly, Neptunus used three more pitchers: Berry van Driel, Jorian van Acker and Floris Timmer. Of these three, Jorian van Acker didn’t allow a run. These three pitched a total of 4.2 innings and combined for six runs on eight hits.
It is hard to believe that a game with only six extra basehits on the side of Pirates and only one on the side of Neptunus ended with such a big score.
Even though L&D Amsterdam Pirates made a big step towards the championship, I’d like to remember you to the 1996 World Series, in which the Atlanta Braves won the first two games in New York and the Yankees then won four in a row to win it all.