July 7, 2008

Haarlem Baseball Day 4: Wet and Wild

By Scott Levison, Tampa Bay Sports Net

Japan kept The Netherlands Antilles winless in a rain-shortened 12-5 game that was stopped after 5 2/3 innings, and the game between Cuba and Taiwan was postponed until Tuesday morning at the Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem, The Netherlands.

Japan took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd thanks to a RBI fielder's choice from Kyohei Iwasaki and a RBI single from Noriharu Yamazaki. Two more runs came across in the 3rd on a Takahiro Iwamoto RBI single and another RBI single from Yamazaki. A Ryoji Nakata sac fly and Iwasaki's second RBI single made it 6-0 in the 4th.

Japan tacked on six more in the top of the 5th, helped by a two-run single from Kohei Shibata, an RBI single from Nakata, a bases-loaded HBP to Takuya Tsukuura, a RBI single from Hiroki Nakazawa and a sac fly RBI from Iwamoto to make it a 12-0 game.

It appeared that Japan was on their way to a mercy-rule victory, but the Antilleans woke up in the 6th with a five-run frame. Andley Simmons singled and went to second on a walk to Lenrick Pinto. A single from Rafael Josefa Jr. scored Simmons with the Antilles' first run. Former Expos/Nationals prospect Lorvin Louisa then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to left. Luisgardo Alvares reached on an error and scored on a double from Raydel Isabella. At that point the skies opened and the game was eventually called, with Japan getting the 12-5 win.

Shinji Iwata got the win with a fine two-hit performance over 5 innings, walking two and striking out 2. Masanori Fujihara was hit hard in his 2/3rds of an inning stint, allowing the five Antillean runs (one unearned) on five hits and a walk, both of his outs were recorded by strikeout. Alfred van der Linden started for the Antilleans and took the loss in his 2 2/3rd inning stint, allowing four runs (2 unearned) on five hits and a pair of walks. Revelien Elizabeth allowed seven runs on 5 hits and a pair of walks in his 1 13 innings of work. Orsendo Clemencia fared a bit better, registering the only strikeouts and allowing a run on two hits in his 2 innings on the mound.

The USA resumes play on Tuesday afternoon against the Netherlands Antilles. Because of the morning game between Cuba and Taiwan, the starting time for USA/Antilles game has been pushed back 30 minutes. The evening contest will have Japan taking on The Netherlands.