The game yesterday between team Spain and The Netherlands has some special memories. First in time, the thrilling game played in Euro baseball 2007 Pre-Olympic Tournament in Barcelona, where Spain were very close to win against the Dutch and get the passport to Beijing 08.
In the other hand, last night game was the 30th overall game between the two countries. The Dutch and Spanish teams met for the first time on July 14, 1956 in Rome during the European Championships, reports KNBSL.
Near 3,000 fans attended Pim Moulier Stadium at Harlem to enjoy baseball and support their team again, like they did in 2005 World Cup, pushing their team up to 4th position in final ranking.
But yesterday the game was not at all like the one in Barcelona, a game for the baseball memory for both countries: in fact, they had scored 9 runs in the first two innings, so another Spain victory was much more difficult. 16 hits for the Dutch, while 6 for Spain, also show a key number in this game, which ended with a final score of 10-5 for local team.
Spanish starting pitcher Antonio Noguera was knocked by a strong offense by the Dutch in the 2 first innings: in 1st, Kingsale opened with a triple, De Caster got a RBI-single, and Sidney de Jong drove in one more with a pop to 1b.
Second inning was a nightmare for Spaniards: Railly Legito, Schoop singled in a row, Rombley doubled driving 2 runs in. Statia singled again -2 RBI more- and after a walk, Yoel Hernandez replaced Noguera in the mound. But De Caster doubled again, and again De Jong drove in one more with a single. Finally, Legito doubled and brought home 2 more runs: 7 runs and 7 hits in this fatal inning for spanish players.
By team Netherlands, first innings were under control, thanks to great and hard pitching by Juan Carlos Sulbaran –a young pitcher who had shined in 2nd World Classic.
But there is always something positive: Spain team did not give up ever: in fact, once stopped the avalanche at 2nd inning, relievers Yoel Hernandez (6.2 IP, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 SO), Manu Olivera (0.2 IP, 0 R) and Fernando Gutierrez (0.2 IP, 0 R) only allowed one more run in the rest of the game.
And the pride of “La Roja” appeared also in the game –as always in this World Cup-, scoring 5 runs in 3rd and 4th innings: Marlins shortstop Nestor Perez walked, and put in second with a hit by his teammate Daniel Martinez. Daniel Figueroa was hit by pitch, and Febles bat for fielder’s choice and RBI.
Afterwards, Paco Figueroa sacrificed fly for the run scored by Martinez.
In next inning, catcher Dewis Navarro reach first with a single, Riera walked. After Sanchez strike out, and Nestor Perez’s walk, Veltkamp replaced Sulbaran in the mound. But first batter –Martinez- was walk again, driving home Navarro. D. Figueroa was KO, but brave FC Barcelona secondbaseman, Emmanuel Febles, singled to the middle getting 2 RBI more, scoring Perez and Riera.
Paco Figueroa walked, and the alarm started to sound for orange manager Rod Delmonico, who enter Asjes in the mound. He was lucky when powerful batter Luis Perez lined out to short stop, and the Spanish’s reaction was interrupted… also for next innings: Spain was not able to score, getting only 1 hit by Paco Figueroa in 7th inning, against final reliever Diegomar Markwell –a really good pitcher- who got the save (3 IP, 2 hits, 4 SO, 1 BB).
Today Thursday 17th Spain faces Cuba: for sure it will be a hard game for team Spain, but with the Group current standings, the dream of passing next Round will not decide in today’s games, but in next key matches against strong teams like Nicaragua, Great Britain (European runner up champion 2007) and South Korea, Olympic Gold Medal… Games to dream, but sure, games to enjoy for players and fans.
(Photos courtesy of Arthur van der Velde)
Box score of the game is here
