Four games were played in the Dutch Hoofdklasse on Thursday evening. The top four in the standings prevailed in each of them. Rob Cordemans pitched five solid innings in a 5-2 win by L&D Amsterdam over DSS. After the promoted DSS tied the game with a two-run third, the Pirates regained the lead in the fourth and didn’t look back.
Kevin Dirksen hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie on route to a 4-1 win of the Vaessen Pioniers against HCAW Bussum. Pitchers Ricardo Hernandez and Sander Helmendach were locked into a pitcher’s duel until then. In the battle of bullpens Sedley Karel bailed out Hernandez with runners on first and second in the eighth, while Tony Kreisel promptly gave up Dirksen’s long ball after Helmendach had put runners on the corners.
Curacao Neptunus Rotterdam had no problems with UVV, winning 11-2. Led by four-hit performances of Raily Legito and Shaldimar Daantji the reigning champion put 17 hits on the board. Gianison Boekhoudt and Christian Diaz connected for home runs.
In the fourth matchup on the day Corendon Kinheim downed Mampaey The Hawks 8-3. Mervin Gario hit a home run. Kevin Moesquit reached base five times, while scoring thrice. Scott Ronnenbergh collected an easy victory despite giving up seven walks in 5 2/3 innings.
The three-game series continue on Saturday and Sunday.