Netherlands moves to 3-0 against Japan

Dutch Team scores four Runs in fourth to find Winning Track

Panama City, Panama. The Netherlands improved to 3-0 in the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup with a 5-2 win over Japan. After defeating Chinese Taipei and Greece on Sunday and Monday in Aguadulce, the team of head coach Brian Farley also had few problems in their debut at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. Four runs in the fourth inning got them the lead and they routinely sealed the victory afterwards. Japan suffered its second loss in two days, getting more and more under pressure to lose out on a ticket for the second round.

But it was the team from Asia, which had the better start, taking a 1-0 lead on back to back doubles by Yoshinobu Kotegawa and Yuichi Tabata. The advantage didn’t last for long, as the Dutch team countered right away. Sharlon Schoop doubled with one out in the fourth and came around to score on an error by the second baseman moments later. A walk and a single loaded the bases for Shaldimar Daantji, who came through with a three-run double to cap the game-winning rally. Afterwards both teams couldn’t do much offensively except for a RBI single by Takayoshi Kawabata in the seventh and a RBI double by Curt Smith in the ninth.

On the mound veteran right hander Rob Cordemans (W, 1-0) issued just one run on five hits and a walk in six strong innings to lay the fundament for the win. Diegomar Markwell and David Bergman, usually starting pitchers as well, shared the work in the remaining three innings to close it out. Masamitsu Hamano (L, 0-1) took the loss, getting charged with three hits, three runs (1 ER) and three bb in 3 1/3 innings. Japan used six more pitchers, as they mixed and matched to keep the score in reach for a comeback.

While the Netherlands will enjoy the off day before another afternoon game at Rod Carew Stadium against Puerto Rico on Thursday, Japan is back on the field in Panama City on Wednesday making up Sunday’s rainout versus Team USA.

(From IBAF Website)