U21 World Cup: Dutch beat Kiwis for second win of the tournament

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In the second game of the losers bracket, the Dutch took on New Zealand, also called the Diamondblacks.

It was a high scoring  game in which the score went back and forth and in which both teams committed some errors. So for the neutral fan there was much to enjoy. A disastrous seventh inning for the Diamondblacks costed them the game.

The Dutch took a slim 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when New Zealand’s starter Ben Thompson threw a willd pitch with the bases loaded. During the tournament the Kiwis showed that they are not easy to beat and so they did this time. In the top of the fourth inning Daniel Bradley hit a lead off triple  off pitcher Reginald Bomberg. Three batters later he scored on a single to left field by Boss Moanaroa. Connor O’Gorman advanced to third on this hit and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

One inning later the Dutch scored an unearned run when Dennis Gustina laid down a bunt that wasn’t fielded properly by Connor O’Gorman. The Kiwis scored an unearned run as well in the sixth when Daniel Bradley scored from first after he had gotten there on a throwing error by Dutch third basman Cezan Rafaela and a sac fly hit by Max Brown.

In the aforementioned seventh inning, the Dutch had eleven at bats, starting with Kirvin Moesquit. He got on base when he was hit by a pitch. Then he stole second and third before Kevin Moesquit drew a walk. Kirvin Moesquit was driven in by Kevin Weijgertse who hit a single to right field. A walk, drawn by Aldair Adamus loaded the bases before Milton Croes drove in Kevin Moesquit and Kevin Weijgertse on a double to left field.  Cezan Rafaela ripped a pitch to right field for a bases clearing triple that drove in Aldair Adamus and Milton Croes. Two more runs were scored by Steven Wharwood and Cezan Rafaela.

New Zealand scored two more runs in the eighth (one unearned) but after that New Zealand went out of fuel.

Scott Ronneberg who pitched three innings in relief earned the win. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits, gave up two walks and struck out one. Reginald Bomberg pitched six innings and left the game trailing 3-2. Bomberg allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. He walked one and fanned four.

Samuel Harvey was tabbed with the loss. He was responsible for the first two runs that the Dutch scored in the seventh inning.

Best hitter for the Dutch was Cezan Rafaela, who went 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs batted in. Daniel Bradley collected three hits in five at bats and scored three runs.

Notable fact: Despite the win, the Dutch were outhit by the Diamondblacks 10-8. The number of walks given up by both teams decided the game: eight given up by New Zealand, three by the Dutch.

The Dutch have climbed to the second spot in the standings of the losers bracket. Italy beat Venezuela with the same numbers (9-5) and are leading the pack with one game over the Dutch.