Holland Blanks Cuba 7-0 in Rotterdam Tournament
HAVANA TIMES — Holland has clearly had Cuba’s number in recent years at international baseball events and Monday was no exception with the Dutch taking a 7-0 shutout victory at the Rotterdam Port Tournament, reported Baseballdecuba.com.
The game was close for seven innings with Cuba down 2-0 going into the eighth. Rod Cordemans went the route, scattering five singles, and didn’t allow a Cuban base runner to reach third base. At one point he retired 14 batters in a row.
Cuba’s only scoring opportunities came in the second and seventh innings when they had runners on first and second but Alexander Malleta and Eriel Sanchez were unable to produce in the first chance and once again Malleta left two stranded in the second opportunity.
Holland took the lead in the fourth off Cuban starter Noelvis Entenza on a two out double by Dwayne Kemp followed by a single from Michael Duursma that put runners on the corners. Then a hit by catcher Bas Nooij drove in Kemp.
The Dutch got back on the scoreboard in the fifth on an RBI double from Danny Rombley, driving in Roeland Henrique, who had gotten on base after being hit by a pitch.
In the eighth Holland scored two more off reliever Jorge Hernandez. With two outs and runners on first and third a single from Bas Nooij drove in one run followed by a double from Shaldimar Daantji that brought home another putting the score at 4-0.
Holland put some more icing on the cake in the ninth with three more runs of Jorge Hernandez. Duniel Ibarra got the final two outs.
Cuba is now 1-1 in the four team tournament after defeating Curacao 3-0 on Sunday.
The Cubans have a rest day on Tuesday and on Wednesday have a rematch against Holland at 1:30 p.m. Cuba time (EST).
Lefty Wilber Perez is expected to start for Cuba and for Holland, righty, Orlando Yntema.