by Pim van Nes
The speedy game between Curacao Neptunus and Corendon Kinheim, dominated by two strong pitchers Orlando Yntema and Tom Stuifbergen, lasted only 1 hour and 52 minutes due to heavy rain showers arriving from France.
Exactly at the moment, that a bad hop and the first run for Kinheim finished another strong outing by home pitcher Orlando Yntema and closer Loek van Mil coming to the mound, rain started to pour over Familie Stadion after a tropical day in Rotterdam with temperatures up to 30 degrees Celsius.
The radar forecasted a rather short time of rain fall, but in 20 minutes so much water from heaven reached Neptunus home plate, that umpires and coaches concluded to interrupt the game definitely and to continue on next Saturday at 13.00 h, one hour before play ball of Game two at the same stadium.
After two no-hitters recorded by Neptunus pitcher Yntema in May and July, this evening the former Minor Leaguer brought a one-hitter deep into the eighth inning of playoff game one of the defending champion club. With two outs and a 1-0 lead for Neptunus, a groundout at first base changed into a bad hop and Dudley Leonora scored the tying run from second base.
For Yntema the shutout was gone, but a minute later also the last option for a game decision (win or loss) for regular closer Loek van Mil was cancelled by the tropical rain shower. The game was suspended and re-scheduled for Saturday, but by then the 2m15 tall pitcher returns to his Minnesota Twins in order to play for their Triple A team in Rochester (Red Wings).Update: Loek van Mil will be available on Saturday after all, having re-scheduled his flight to the United States from Friday to Sunday.
Photo by former Feyenoord baseball player Hans van Zijp