Who would have thought that this first game of the relegation series would be a walk over for the Dutch hoofdklasse representative, will be very disappointed. Silicon Storks didn’t stand much of a chance against pitcher Dion Steijl, who pitched a complete game, despite giving up six runs.
Silicon Storks 6 – 16 RCH-Pinguïns
For those non-Dutch baseball fans who wonder what RCH-Pinguïns stands for, the club is a merger between RCH and Pinguïns from Heemstede. RCH stands for Racing Club Heemstede and Pinguïns is Dutch for penguins.
Last week, RCH lost the championship game of the eerste klasse (one level below the Dutch hoofdklasse) against the farm team of L&D Amsterdam Pirates. But since it is not allowed to have two teams in the highest Dutch league, RCH-Pinguïns will play for a promotion to the Dutch baseball Walhalla.
After two scoreless innings, Storks scored three runs on a triple by Brendly Martina, Joran Berkhout’s single and the single hit by Sheadion Jamanika. But RCH-Pinguïns turned the tables immediately. A two-run home run by Koen Werkman, RBI doubles by Jesse Aussems and Brett Thompson, an RBI single by Gianni Frolijk and a bases-loaded walk by Koen Werkman drove in six runs for the team from Heemstede.
Storks managed to tie the game at six in the fifth inning, but from that moment on, the gas was out of the tank. RCH-Pinguïns took the lead again in the bottom of the fifth as Donny Hamelink could score on a 6-3 double play. RCH-Pinguïns extended its score with three runs in the seventh and six in the eighth, to end the game prematurely thanks to the mercy rule.
Dion Steijl earned the win as he pitched a complete game in which he gave up eight hits, walked five and struck out three. He needed 122 pitches to accomplish the feat. The pitching of Silicon Storks wasn’t able to handle the lineup of RCH-Pinguïns. Starting pitcher Twan Naessens lasted two innings and faced four batters in the third and gave up four runs. Obed Hernandez, who replaced Naessens, lasted 0.2 innings and gave up two runs. Renaigel Martis also lasted 0.2 innings but didn’t allow a hit. Jairo Samboe also lasted 0.2 innings and gave up the winning run to RCH-Pinguïns. Kevin van Veen lasted 3.2 innings but had to deal with the biggest number of runs given up: nine (six earned).
Tomorrow, game two will be played in The Hague. Start 14.00 (2.00 PM).
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