Despite getting one hit more than their opponent and despite the error their opponent committed, the Dutch could not clinch the win today as they fell 3-2 to Taiwan.
Most of the action happened in the first half of the game as both teams scored their runs in or before the fifth inning.
In the first inning, Taiwan scored when Ju Liang Tai crossed home plate on Chien Ming Chiang’s single to right-center field. In the second inning, the Taiwanese extended their score when Chia Wei Huang scored from third base on a sac bunt by Hsaio Yun Chen.
Despite having a good scoring opportunity in the first inning, the Dutch couldn’t bring home the run. But in the third inning, the Kingdom of the Netherlands cut Taiwan’s lead in half. A single by Dwayne Kemp, a double down the left field line and a sac fly by Dudley Leonora drove in the first run for the Dutch.
After Taiwan scored another run in the fourth, the Dutch inched closer in the fifth when Dudley Leonora homered to left field. But there the offense stalled. The Dutch lineup was kept in check by the Taiwanese pitching. Only in the eighth inning, the Dutch had an opportunity to tie the game with a runner on third but Rachid Engelhardt grounded out for the final out of the inning and got Nick Urbanus stranded at third base.
Diegomar Markwell pitched a decent game. In seven innings, he allowed three runs on five hits, walked two and struck out one. Thanks to the lack of sufficient run support, he took the loss.
Only four of the Dutch lineup managed to collect a hit. Gilmer Lampe went 2 for 4 with a double, Nick Urbanus also collected two hits in four at-bats, Dwayne Kemp went 2 for 5 and Dudley Leonora went 1 for 2 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored.
Tomorrow the Dutch will have a day off. Their next game will be on Tuesday vs Cuba.
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