NETHERLANDS – Josh Renick delivered a clutch two-run single in the bottom of the ninth to lift Corendon Kinheim over L&D Amsterdam, 4-3, Thursday night at Haarlem. With the win, Kinheim ended a seven-game losing streak to the Pirates dating back to the 2008 Holland Series.

Amsterdam came out the gate in a hurry with three hits off Kinheim starter David Bergman in the opening frame. Maikel Benner and Marvin Bleij stroked one-out hits, and Bas de Jong came though with an RBI single to put the Pirates on top. However, Bergman escaped further damage when leftfielder Remco Draijer threw out Bleij at the plate to end the inning.

Draijer tagged Amsterdam starter Nick Stuifbergen with a run-scoring double in the third to tie the game, and Bryan Engelhardt homered the next inning to give Kinheim a 2-1 lead.

The defending Dutch Major League champion roughed up Kinheim reliever Nick Veltkamp for two runs in the eighth. Bleij and Sidney de Jong hit back-to-back singles to start the inning before Veltkamp retired the next two hitters. But Kenny Berkenbosch followed with a two-run double to help the Pirates regain the lead, 3-2.

Amsterdam closer Pim Walsma, who leads the league with eight saves, sat down Kevin Weijgertse on a foul pop-up to the catcher to start the ninth. Unfortunately, it would prove to be the only out the national team reliever would get on this night.

René Cremer reached on a walk and Draijer tallied his second hit of the game. Former batting champion Danny Rombley singled to load the bases, and Renick ended the contest with a walk off base hit.

Kinheim closer Michiel van Kampen worked a scoreless ninth inning to pick up the win.

Photo courtesy of Henk Seppen/L&D Amsterdam

Tags: Netherlands