The first game of the 2024 Harlem Honkbalweek event was originally Chinese Taipei vs. Japan, but due to poor weather conditions, it will be played on July 15th. However, the weather cleared up for the United States to take on the Netherlands in the first real matchup of Honkbal Week.
Dwayne Kemp started the scoring in the 4th inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Juremi Profar, who played a crucial role in the game, the brother of MLB All-Star Jurickson Profar.
After Jiandido Tromp scored on a wild pitch, Juremi Profar had an opportunity to break the game wide open, and Profar hit a three-run home run to make it 5-0 Netherlands.
The United States got one run back with an RBI single from Brayden Smith, but the Netherlands immediately responded with an RBI groundout from Denzel Richardson to make it 6-1, which ended up being the final score.
Tom De Blok took the mound for the Netherlands and started off the first inning strong, getting the first three United States batters out quickly with three strikeouts. De Blok pitched six innings, giving up three hits and four walks, striking out six total, allowing no runs, and getting the win.
Blake Lobell started for the United States and pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out five. However, the bullpen from the US was subpar, with Luke Cooley allowing four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings and Austin Jobe allowing two more hits and another run in 1.2 innings.
The Netherlands will take on Italy next, while the United States will take on Japan.
Follow the Harlem Honkbalweek event with us all week, and watch along at honkball.tv.
