Dutch hoofdklasse 2018: Playoffs round 1, day 1

On the first night of the playoffs, the Netherlands was hit by inclement weather. The game between De Glaskoning Twins and Curaçao Neptunus was bothered by a rain delay twice. The other game in the playoffs, L&D Amsterdam Pirates vs HCAW could be played without rain delays.

HCAW  0  –  3  L&D Amsterdam Pirates
For five innings both starting pitchers, Chris Pfau for HCAW and Rob Cordemans for L&D Amsterdam Pirates, kept the opponents in check. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Pirates struck first. Remco Draijer singled to left field, followed by a triple to right center field hit by Nick Urbanus. When Rashid Gerard singled to center field, Kenny Berkenbosch, who had gotten on base thanks to an HBP, advanced to third and Nick Urbanus scored the second run. Another single, this time hit by Linoy Croes, drove in Kenny Berkenbosch for the third run. This signaled the end for Pfau, who was replaced by Timo van Ancum in the seventh. In six innings, Pfau threw 106 pitches and gave up six hits and one walk and struck out eight. Rob Cordemans lasted seven innings in which he exceeded 100 pitches as well. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out two.
In the seventh inning, Van Ancum got some much-needed help of his defense. As he allowed Pirates to load the bases with one out, Rodney Daal hit to the shortstop who fired to ball to home plate where catcher Julian Goins tagged out Niels van Weert, who came dashing home. Neither team did not score in the remainder of the game.
Rob Cordemans earned the win, Chris Pfau took the loss. Jim Ploeger earned the save as he retired the side in the ninth.
Best hitters for L&D Amsterdam Pirates were Remco Draijer and Linoy Croes. Both went 2 for 3.

Curaçao Neptunus  11  –  1  De Glaskoning Twins
Despite pitching three perfect innings, Shogo Nakashima could not keep Curaçao Neptunus from scoring five runs in the fifth. Two singles, two doubles, a wild pitch and a home run gave Neptunus a commanding lead. Twins grounded into double plays three times, once in a situation that could have led to more than one run they scored. With the bases loaded, Sam Kennelly hit a sac fly before Jamie Verheyleweghen grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Diegomar Markwell, who was replaced by Loek van Mil in the sixth inning, earned the win as he gave up one run on four hits and a walk as he struck out one.
After Neptunus scored another run in the fifth inning, the seventh turned out to be a bad one for Twins again. Jakob Syrén wasn’t able to record an out and gave up a bases-loaded walk before he was pulled. Jan Evertse who replaced Syrén started with a walk as well. After Neptunus scored one more run on a fielder’s choice at second base, Jan Evertse got out of the inning thanks to a double play. In the eighth, Neptunus scored two more runs to reach the final score. 
Loek van Mil retired the side in the eighth inning for the win as the mercy rule was activated because of the ten-run difference.
Best hitter for Curaçao Neptunus was Stijn van der Meer, who went 3 for 4 with a double, an RBI and four runs scored.

This report is brought to you by Score66 Baseball