(Source: Curacao Professional Baseball)
In the first game of the 2023 Curacao Professional Baseball League the Willemstad Cannons beat the Curacao Goats 5-2.
All games in the Curacao Professional Baseball League will be seven innings.
The Willemstad Cannons pitching staff combined for seven innings allowing four hits, two earned runs, four walks, and 12 strikeouts.
The Curacao Goats got on the board first in the top of the second inning as Willemstad Cannons starting pitcher Nelmerson Angela threw over to first baseman Swindley Lint with Curacao Goats center fielder Raysheandell Michel advancing to third base as the ball went past him down the first base side in foul territory. Lint tried to get the ball back into the field and threw it past Angela as Michel came in to score the first run of the game for the Goats.
During the bottom of the second inning, the Willemstad Cannons struck the board as Lint launched a two-run home run over the left field wall scoring designated hitter Jonathan Martijn to take the lead at 2-1.
In the top of the third inning, Willemstad Cannons manager Carlos Pineda went to his bullpen to call upon relief pitcher Marlison Brunken to replace Angela. Angela threw two innings allowing one earned run, one hit, two walks, and four strikeouts.
A few batters later, Curacao Goats catcher Ortwin Pieternella lifted a sacrifice fly to right field as second baseman Nayerich Waterfort came into score to tie the game up at 2-2.
Curacao Goats starting pitcher Cody Mincey walked Martijn as the first batter he faced during the bottom of the fourth inning as manager Hainley Statia called upon relief pitcher Clarence Martina to replace Mincey.
Mincey threw three innings allowing two hits, three earned runs, three walks and four strikeouts during the first game of the regular season.
A few batters later, Willemstad Cannons shortstop Ryson Polonius ripped an infield single to shortstop Rog Kaeber and beat out the play at first base as Martijn came into score to go up 3-2.