Amsterdam Takes Control Of Holland Series

THE NETHERLANDS - L&D Amsterdam moved closer to dethroning Corendon Kinheim in the Dutch Major Leagues with a 6-3 victory on Tuesday in Game 2 of the Holland Series at Haarlem. The Pirates lead the best-of-five series two games to none.

Amsterdam wasted little time putting pressure on Kinheim starter Patrick Beljaards. Wesley Connor led off the game with a single and stole second base before rain forced a short delay. Once action resumed, Beljaards made an errant throw on Marvin Bleij’s sacrifice bunt to load the bases, and Cuban slugger Fausto Alvarez followed with a walk to give the Pirates an early lead. Ryan Murphy added a sacrifice fly later in the same inning to put the visitors on top, 2-0.

The defending champions reduced the lead in the second when Vince Rooi’s leadoff homer made the score 2-1. But, Amsterdam added a pair of runs in the third on run-scoring hits by Pavèl van Zaane and Zaïr Koeiman, and went ahead 5-1 the following inning when Maikel Benner walked and later crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

Kinheim inched closer with a run in the fifth on Dirk van ‘t Klooster’s RBI single, and Tjerk Smeets solo homer in the eighth closed the gap to 5-3. However, Murphy answered back with a solo blast in the ninth and Amsterdam closer Pim Walsma, who replaced starting pitcher Kenny Berkenbosch an inning earlier, sat down Kinheim without a whimper to pick up his second save of the series.

Game 3 of the Holland Series will be on Wednesday, October 8 at Haarlem.

2008 HOLLAND SERIES
Game 1: L&D Amsterdam 4, Corendon Kinheim 3
Game 2: L&D Amsterdam 3, Corendon Kinheim 3
Game 3: L&D Amsterdam @ Corendon Kinheim (Oct.8)
Game 4: Corendon Kinheim @ L&D Amsterdam (Oct.11)*
Game 5: L&D Amsterdam @ Corendon Kinheim (Oct.12)*
(Amsterdam leads series 2-0)

* If necessary

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