The Netherlands secured a spot in the next round of the World Baseball Classic with a 4-1 victory over team Australia on Tuesday. The victory gave the Netherlands a 2-1 record in Group B. Round two will be played in Tokyo.
Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run home run To leave the Netherlands. Andrelton Simmons opened the Netherlands’ first inning with a double and took third on a sacrifice by Schoop. He made the score 1-0 when Roger Bernadina singled to center. Simmons knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice in the second before Schoop ripped a shot into the seats beyond left field that put the Dutch up 4-0.
Robbie Cordemans turned in five shutout innings for the Netherlands. Australia’s lone run came in the seventh inning when Stefan Welch led off the seventh with a double and Brad Harman knocked him in with a single. “Robbie (Cordemans) pitched a great game. Five innings and no runs,” said Dutch head coach Hensley Meulens.
