Maels Rodriguez and Cuba may have found a way to get even with Hensley Meulens.
Bean him.
Meulens, whose nickname is "Bambam," hit the game-winning RBI off Rodriguez in the Netherlands' huge upset of Cuba in last year's Olympics.
That win ended Cuba's 21-game winning streak in the Olympics.
In the first meeting between the teams since Sydney, Rodriguez and Meulens faced off again last night. Rodriguez hit him.
Not once, but twice. Once in the first inning and the second time in the third inning. Rodriguez didn't get a chance to hit Meulens a third time.
He was pulled just as Muelens was coming to the bat in the fifth inning.
"I think that it's very strange to know that it happened to the guy who got the winning hit in Sydney," said the Dutch manager, Robert Eenhoorn.
Vince Rooi of the Netherlands was also beaned by Rodriguez, but only Dutch relief pitcher Patrick Beljaards was ejected after he nailed Cuban Oscar Hernandez in the fifth inning -- apparently after a warning had been issued to both teams.
"I'm very disappointed about the appearance of a double standard," Eenhoorn said. "We should get some respect."
Never the same, again
Local baseball may never be the same, according to a city hall official who took time off from his busy schedule to watch Taiwan beat the Dominican Republic.
"This is the best thing that has happened to baseball in Chiayi, ever.
"I just hope we can translate this fan turnout into better attendance numbers at regular season games next year."
with additional reporting by Dan Bloom
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