Today Dutch champion Curaçao Neptunus faced the Mainz Athletics. One grand slam home run made the difference today. Who did hit it? Max Boldt of the Mainz Athletics. Eventually, it prevented Neptunus from winning the game as the Rotterdam-based team lost 7-6.
Misja Harcksen started on the mound for Curaçao Neptunus. It was quite a while ago since he made his last start as a pitcher. Misja was very nervous and unfortunately, it showed. He had some problems with finding the strike zone and those pitches that went through the strike zone were easy preys for the hitters of the Athletics.
Misja struggled through the first inning, but kept the damage still limited as he gave up two runs. But it must be said that his teammates did not really help him as they failed to record the outs. With the bases loaded, Jeff Hunt singled up the middle on which Nicolas Weichert and Max Boldt could score for Mainz.
In the second inning, Mainz extended their lead with a run when Nicolas Weichert drew a bases loaded walk. Still with the bases loaded, Max Boldt followed with a grand slam to left field to give the German team a 7-1 lead.
Neptunus got on the board in the top of the second inning when Dwayne Kemp, who had gotten on base with a single, scored on Gianison Boekhoudt’s single.
In the next innings Neptunus inched close as they scored a run in the fifth and in the sixth inning.
In the eighth inning, Neptunus started a rally that brought them within a run from the Athletics. Stijn van der Meer drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when Riley Barr tried to pick him off first base but threw the ball way past the first baseman. Benjamin Dille then singled through the left side to drive in Van der Meer. After Neptunus loaded the bases, Ruar Verkerk singled through the right side to drive in two more runs. But there the offensive outburst was halted.
Riley Barr kept Neptunus from scoring in the next inning as he clinched the win. In a complete game, he threw 126 pitches, allowed six runs (four earned), struck out six and walked three. Misja Harcksen was tabbed with the loss.
Best hitter for the Mainz Athletics was Marcel Schulz, who went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
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