Dutch playoffs 2017: Bitter loss for L&D Amsterdam Pirates

It was the only game tonight as the other game between Hoofddorp Pioniers and HCAW was rained out. Curaçao Neptunus hosted L&D Amsterdam Pirates. After trailing 3-0, Neptunus stepped on it and got the win in the final three innings: 6-3

For quite a while, both starting pitchers kept their opponent in check. Until the sixth inning, Rob Cordemans gave up five hits and a walk. His opponent, Diegomar Markwell gave up one hit until the fifth inning.

But in the top of the fifth inning, Pirates jumped on Markwell. Two walks and a single loaded the bases before Rachid Gerard singled down the left field line to drive in Danny Rombley and Kenny Berkenbosch.  With Zerzinho Croes at third base, Remco Draijer laid down a bunt single to drive in Croes for Pirates’ third run.

Manager Ronald Jaarsma then replaced Diegomar Markwell with Czech international Jan Tomek. Tomek kept the Pirates lineup in check for 3.1 innings.

But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Rob Cordemans started to struggle as he gave up a leadoff double to Gianison Boekhoudt and a single to Dwayne Kemp that put runners on the corners. That was the sign for manager Charles Urbanus to replace Cordemans with Dennis Burgersdijk, who is also struggling a bit of late. A single to right center field by Daniel Fernandes drove in Boekhoudt. A wild pitch by Dennis Burgersdijk put runners in scoring position for Neptunus. When Shaldimar Daantji singled to right center field, both Kemp and Fernandes scored to tie the game at three.

A wild pitch in the bottom of the seventh led to another run for Neptunus.

After Burgersdijk recorded the first out of the eighth inning, he was replaced by Nick Veltkamp. But Veltkamp couldn’t stop the dynamism of Neptunus as he was tabbed for two runs.

Jan Tomek’s performance earned him the win. In 3.1 innings, he gave up a walk and struck out one. The loss went to Dennis Burgersdijk, who allowed two runs on four hits in 2.1 innings as he walked one and struck out two.

Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Jochem Koedijk, who went 2 for 3 with a double, a RBI and a run scored and who is hitting a whopping .409 so far during this playoff round.

The rained out game between Hoofddorp Pioniers and HCAW will be played tomorrow night in Hoofddorp. 

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