WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL A - CUBA VS NETHERLANDS

March 8, 2023

Hensley Meulens

Shairon Martis

Chadwick Tromp

Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium

Team Netherlands

Postgame Press Conference

Netherlands - 4, Cuba - 2

Q. Chadwick, how did it feel getting that big hit in that moment? Do you have family here that are here to see you? Do you have family in Aruba watching the game somewhere? Have you heard from them? Are they having a watch party for you? All that?

CHADWICK TROMP: As you know, it's 12.00 a.m. over there in Aruba. But my whole family is up watching the game. They've been always there for me. And they're there for me again this year.

I'm extremely honored to put on this uniform and represent Aruba, but also the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Going back to your question it feels good. To be honest, I was a little sloppy with my pitch selection, but fortunately I got something I could put a bat on. In those situations we're taught to just battle our asses off.

So I think it turned out good for us. It was important. But also everybody in front of me did a really good job to get me at the plate in that situation.

Q. Hensley, what's it like to get this big win kind of against Cuba, one of the other favorites in this pool, to get this out of the way and beat them in the first game of the tournament?

HENSLEY MEULENS: It feels great. It's very, very important to win the first game. It takes a monkey off your back right away. It relaxes everybody. We know we have the talent. Until you win that first game, though, it's like it's a nervous wreck.

But we got great pitching today. Despite throwing six walks, we got some, like, 17 ground-ball outs and that's a stellar defense these guys can play. That's why we've got a bunch of Gold Gloves out there.

So that's our MO. We've got to put the ball in play and let our defense shine. And we got a couple of big hits today, the first one by Didi, then by Josh. And then the knockout punch was by Chad here with that huge hit to give us a three-run lead there in the sixth and give us some breathing room. But all in all, this is a huge win for us.

Q. (No translation.)

HENSLEY MEULENS: Obviously I trusted the starter. We were looking for three to four innings out of him. Because the pitch count got high we got three out of him. He gave us all he had.

He hasn't pitched in a long time. He's been dealing with arm problems. But obviously today was a big day for him and for us to watch him get back on the mound and give us all he had right there.

So, no, I was not thinking about taking him out. I was thinking that he needed to relax and give us three to four innings, which he did give us three in 58 pitches. So that's why he stayed out there.

Q. Hensley, did you want to mention something about tomorrow's starting pitcher?

HENSLEY MEULENS: Tomorrow's starting pitcher will be Shairon Martis, veteran pitcher, right-handed pitcher. He's going to face Panama tomorrow after the 12th.

Q. Shairon, tomorrow, how can you kind of build off -- this big win for you guys -- what can you do tomorrow against Panama? What have you talked to Bert Blyleven about? And how can you build off this big win on the first day?

SHAIRON MARTIS: This big win helps a lot. I'm just going to do my best again, try to go deep in the game. About the Panama team, we haven't talked yet. Tomorrow morning before we come to the field we have a meeting about it.

Q. (No translation.)

SHAIRON MARTIS: They're big leaders. We have big leaders too. I played in the Big Leagues so I have experience also. Every day is a different day. Tomorrow I'm just going to attack the zone, pitch the way I've been pitching. And hopefully I'll go deep in the game to help my team win.

Q. (No translation.)

SHAIRON MARTIS: It feels good to be back in Taiwan. I played before so I have the experience. I know the city. I know the league. So it feels good to be back in Taiwan and play another Baseball Classic.