The last two days of Harlem Honkbalweek have been entertaining, with all the teams showing why they are in Haarlem for this unique event.
Spain vs Chinese Taipei
It all started with Spain and Chinese Taipei, which was low-scoring but entertaining. The scoring began in the third inning when Yu-Chuan Fan hit an RBI single to give Chinese Taipei the early 1-0 lead. Two batters later, Min-Yi Yang hit another RBI single to give Chinese Taipei a 2-0 lead in that inning.
Spain tried to come back, scoring a run in the 7th inning through a Juan Gonzalez RBI Single, but that was all they could score, and they ended up losing 2-1. However, Lesther Galvan had two hits, which is helpful for Spain to consider moving forward.
Jun-Wei Zhang was brilliant for Chinese Taipei, going 6.1 innings, allowing one run on five hits plus two walks, and striking out 6 for the win. Meanwhile, Pablo L. Guillen went 4.2 innings for Spain, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks but striking out five. Wang Yu-Chieh pitched two innings of relief with three strikeouts to earn the save.
United States vs. Japan
Japan started strong in the 2nd inning when Taiga Kojima hit an RBI single to give Japan the early 2-0 lead. Then, in the 3rd, Japan added five runs thanks to RBI singles by Kengo Yanagidate and Tsubasa Yoshino.
Also, Taiga Kojima added an RBI double, and Motomu Iiyama added an RBI Walk to make it 7-0. One more run was added in the top of the 4th due to a fielder’s choice to make it 8-0.
The United States got some runs back in the bottom frame of the 4th due to a wild pitch and a Sacrifice Fly by Brayden Smith to make it 7-2. The United States added three runs in the bottom of the 6th because of RBI Singles by Adam Singer and Jake Munroe to make it 8-5.
However, Japan would put the finishing touches on this game by scoring one run in the 8th inning with an RBI Double from Seiya Watanabe, making it 9-5, the final score.
Netherlands vs Italy
Lars Huijer pitched seven scoreless innings, only allowing three hits and one walk and striking out an unbelievable ten in a shutout. Eugene Helder got two hits to help the Netherlands win 4-0. Juremi Profar continues to make an impact for the Netherlands, collecting a hit in the win as well.
Matteo Bocchi pitched four innings, giving up three runs on four hits, two walks, and striking out six, but the offense could not support him.
United States vs Italy
The scoring kicked off in the 4th inning when Michael Young started it with a sacrifice fly, and Robby Bolin hit an RBI single to make it 2-0. In the 5th, Italy got a run back with an RBI walk from Ricardo Paolini.
In the bottom frame, Blaydon Plain hit an RBI Triple, and Kainen Jorge hit an RBI single to make it 4-1 and scored two more runs in the 7th and 8th inning to make it 6-1 before an interesting 9th inning for Italy.
Giulio Monello, Samuele Gamberini, and Nathanael Manoly Batista de Jesus all had an RBI single in the inning to make it 6-4. However, Eli Hoyt for the United States got the final out to give the United States their first win of Honkbal Week.
Jordan Huskey won after pitching four innings, only allowing one run on five hits and striking out 6. Mattia Sireus took the loss, pitching 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and striking out 5.
Netherlands vs Chinese Taipei
This game was another pitching duel, with the first few innings pivotal in this matchup. Juremi Profar’s RBI double play and Rogear Bernadina’s RBI Walk were all the Netherlands needed to hold on for the win 2-0.
Shairon Martis for the Netherlands won by tossing a six-inning shutout, only allowing three hits and one walk, striking out six. Chung-Hsiang Huang pitched three innings, allowing two runs on four hits, walked four, and only had one strikeout. Kevin Kelly got the save for the Netherlands, pitching a clean 9th inning.
Spain vs Japan
Spain scored three runs in the top of the 3rd inning to give themselves the early lead with an Edison Valerio RBI Single, a Jesus Ustariz RBI Walk, and an RBI Groundout from Leopoldo Correa.
Japan would score two runs in the bottom of the 4th thanks to a Shu Yamagata RBI Single and a Solo Home Run from Kengo Yanagidate.
Spain would only get one more run in the 5th inning because of a Jesus Ustariz Solo Home Run, but Japan would respond in the 6th with a Taiga Kojima RBI Double, which scored two, and the 7th inning by a wild pitch to give Japan the 5-4 win.
Fujii Yuya won by pitching 3.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out six. Royd Hernandez took the loss by giving up two runs on a hit and two walks. Yuto Nakamura got the save by pitching 1.1 innings, only giving up two hits.
The standings for Honkbal Week are as follows:
Netherlands: 3-0
Japan: 2-0
Chinese Taipei: 1-1
United States: 1-2
Spain: 0-2
Italy: 0-2
Honkbal Week continues as Japan takes on Chinese Taipei as a rescheduled game of July 12th.
Photo Credit: Honkbalweek.com
