In the second game of the Honkbalweek Haarlem event on July 16, the Netherlands defeated Spain 8-4.
The game started hot, with a combined six runs scored in the first inning. First on the offensive was Spain, earning two runs off Dutch starter Juancarlos Sulbaran through Lesther Galván and Daniel Alejandro Jimenez RBI singles.
Eugene Helder responded in the bottom of the inning with a grand slam home run to deep center field making the score 4-2 Netherlands after a jam-packed first inning.
That grand slam proved to be the only runs that Spain starter Carlos Sierra would allow in this game. He went four full innings before being relieved by Fernando Baez. Sulbaran, however, was pulled from the game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning after Daniel Alejandro Jiminez knocked another single, this time bringing in two runs. Eric Mendez would get the final out in the fifth inning, and the game would be tied 4-4 after five innings.
Neither team would score again until the bottom of the seventh when the Netherlands finally stepped on the gas and put up a three-spot courtesy of a Denzel Richardson triple.
In the next inning, a Spain error allowed Dwayne Kemp to score, putting the Netherlands up 8-4 going into the ninth. The score would stay there as Kevin Kelly came in and did his job for the Netherlands, pitching a shutdown inning to close the game.
The Netherlands are still undefeated after being on upset alert. They move to 4-0, and the win will go to Scott Prins out of the bullpen. They will take on Japan tomorrow in a battle of unbeaten teams.
Tomorrow, there will be three games of Honkbal, with the first at 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time, with Italy facing off against Chinese Taipei.
Follow World Baseball Network for great coverage of Honkbalweek Haalem, and watch along at honkbalsoftbal.tv.
Photo Credit: Honkbalweek Haarlem (David Mulder)
