2019 European Championship: Dutch must go deep but reach final

This game was a semi-final worthy. In a real pitching duel, the Dutch lineup was kept in check by Lowuin Sacramento. He limited the Dutch to two hits in seven innings. It took the Dutch until the eighth inning to get through and take a 1-0 lead that proved to be enough for the win.

For seven innings nothing much happened. Dutch starter Diegomar Markwell lasted only three innings and was replaced in the fourth by Tom de Blok, despite putting up some nice numbers (two hits, two walks, and three strikeouts). De Blok cruised through five innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Lowuin Sacramento, who had never gotten further than Dominican Summer League (rookie), kept the Dutch limited to two hits in seven innings. Only in the eighth inning, Kalian Sams led off with a single, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Dwayne Kemp and was driven in by Calten Daal, who singled through the left side and advanced to second on the throw towards home plate. Ricardo Hernandez took over on the mound and immediately walked Roger Bernadina but got out of the inning without any damage.

In the top of the ninth, manager Van ‘t Hoen guided Juan Carlos Sulbaran to the mound. Sulbaran allowed a walk and a single but clinched the save. Tom de Blok earned the win.

The hits (like the runs) did not come cheap today. The Dutch collected only four hits. Two batters went 1 for 2, Kalian Sams and Dwayne Kemp.

This is the thirty-second time, the Dutch reach the final of a European Championship. Only thrice they did not reach the final but that was in editions they did not participate.
Tomorrow, the Kingdom of the Netherlands will face the winner of the game between Israel and Italy. The final will start at 19.00 (7PM CET).