From BR Bullpen
| 2008 Haarlemse Honkbalweek
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The 2008 Haarlemse Honkbalweek is be the twenty-fourth edition of the Haarlemse Honkbalweek, held every two years. It was held from July 4 to July 13, 2008 in Haarlem, Noord-Holland. The six teams competing will be from the USA, the Netherlands, Cuba, Taiwan, Japan and the Netherlands Antilles/Aruba (fielding a combined squad). As it is shortly before the 2008 Olympics and five of the six countries involved are in the Olympics, Cuba and the Netherlands are using it as a warm-up event. Taiwan and the USA are using the event as a warm-up for the 2008 World University Championship, sending their college national teams.
[edit] July 4
- Cuba 2, Dutch Antilles/Aruba 1. Cuba faced a surprisingly tough challenge in their opener. They managed just one run in six innings against starter Juan Carlos Sulbaran (who had just graduated high school), on a steal of home by Giorvis Duvergel in the 4th. After five strong innings from Yuniesky Maya and Yadier Pedroso, the islanders tie it on a double by former minor leaguer Ardley Jansen, who scored on a hit by Randolph Kirindongo. In the 7th, Lester Victoria relieved Sulbaran and allowed the winning run when Ariel Pestano doubled and Eduardo Paret singled him in. The Dutch squad got a man on second with one out in the 9th but Jonder Martinez retired the next two to end it.
- Japan 5, Taiwan 4. 1B Ryoji Nakata drove in 3 and 3B Kyohei Iwasaki and C Shota Ono each scored twice to help Japan win the all-Asian match-up.
[edit] July 5
[edit] July 6
- Taiwan 6, Netherlands 4. Leon Boyd was roughed up for six runs in five innings as the host dropped a game to the Taiwan college team. Vince Rooi hit a 2-run homer in a losing cause.
- USA 1, Cuba 0. Mike Minor, Kyle Gibson, Chris Hernandez and Kendal Volz team up on a shutout of the Cubans, who only managed five hits. Yuliesky González allowed the lone run when Christian Colon drove home Tommy Mendonca.
[edit] July 7
- Japan 12, Dutch Antilles/Aruba 5. Shinji Iwata throws five scoreless innings before a late rally by the Dutch Antilles against the bullpen; LF Lorvin Louisa cracks a 3-run homer. 3B Hiroki Nakazawa goes 3 for 3 with 2 runs and a RBI while DH Ryoji Nakata is 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 2 RBI for the strong Japanese offense as they go to 2-1.
[edit] July 8
- USA 11, Dutch Antilles/Aruba 0. Andrew Oliver and A.J. Griffin combine on a 3-hitter while Dutch starter Raymond Martes gives up 8 runs in under 3 innings. Eight different US players score in a balanced attack.
- Japan 3, Netherlands 2. David Bergman pitched no-hit ball for 7 innings but Japan rallied to win. Still leading 2-1 in the 9th, Bergman allowed a solo homer to 1B Ryoji Nakata. Japan then loaded the bases and SS Noriharu Yamazaki singled in Jumpei Komichi while facing Michiel van Kampen to give Japan the come-from-behind win. Japanese hurlers combined for 12 strikeouts. Roel Koolen's solo homer was the big blow for the Netherlands.
[edit] July 9
- Cuba 3, Taiwan 0. Four Cuban hurlers - Adiel Palma, Luis Miguel Rodriguez, Norberto González and Pedro Luis Lazo - combined to shut out Taiwan despite 3 hits from 3B Yi-Chuan Lin. 1B Alexander Mayeta had 3 hits and a run for the Cubans.
- Cuba 5, Japan 3. Starters Elier Sánchez and Toshiki Tsuboi each struggled in this one. Michel Enriquez tripled home Giorvis Duvergel in the first for a 1-0 Cuban lead but Japan pounced on Elier for 3 runs in the second on a 2-run triple by SS Noriharu Yamazaki, who was bunted home. In the bottom of the second, Yoandy Garlobo homered and Eduardo Paret later came home on a passed ball. Veteran DH Rolando Meriño singled home Duvergel and Héctor Olivera Jr. in the 4th for the final scoring of the game. Vicyohandri Odelin, Jonder Martinez and Miguel Lahera combined for 6 shutout relief innings for Cuba.
- The host team lost another one-run game, 2-1 to the USA. Diegomar Markwell gave up a 5th-inning homer to Derek Dietrich but otherwise threw scoreless ball for 8 1/3 innings. The Dutch tied it in the 7th against Brett Hunter. Dirk van 't Klooster singled, was bunted over by Roel Koolen, advanced on an out by Bryan Engelhardt and scored on an error by SS Ryan Jackson. In the 10th, Berry van Driel allowed a Jackson single and he was bunted over. Matt den Dekker walked and Christian Colon was plunked. A fielder's choice scored the US's winning run. In the bottom of the 10th, Engelhardt singled and Mike Duursma laid down a successful sac bunt. Eugene Kingsale drew a walk from Kendal Volz but Sidney de Jong ended the rally by grounding into a twin killing.
[edit] July 10
[edit] July 11
- USA 3, Taiwan 1. RF Josh Fellhauer has a solo homer and sacrifice fly and six US hurlers combine to put the team at 5-0 after the round-robin phase.
- Taiwan 8, Dutch Antilles/Aruba 5. C Randolph Kirindongo homers, scores two and drives in two but it is not enough for the Antilles squad as three errors let in four unearned runs. 3B Chih-Pei Huang goes 2 for 4 with a homer, 2 runs and 2 RBI to lead Taiwan to its second win.
[edit] Records Through 2 games of July 11
- USA 5-0
- Cuba 4-1
- Japan 3-2
- Taiwan 2-3
- Netherlands 1-4
- Dutch Antilles/Aruba 0-5
