Italy vs. Czech Republic
In the final game of the Italian Baseball Week, the Czech Republic got into scoring position first.
Petr Sila led off the game with a walk, stole second base with one out, but then was left behind.
The Czechs were retired in order in the second inning.
The first three Italian batters also were retired in order, but the squad of Manager Marco Mazzieri then opened the score in the second inning.
Alex Liddi led off with a walk, then advanced on a single by Alex Sambucci.
The two moved on a grounder, but the Liddi scored the first run on a 2-out single by Marco Sabbatani.
The Czechs left two baserunners again in the third inning off of Italian starter José Escalona.
With runners on first and second base, Escalona closed the at bat with a strikeout.
He also had closed the first inning with a strikeout with a Czech runner on third base.
Italy started to take more distance in the third inning.
Stefano Desimoni and Sebastiano Poma both began with a walk.
A double steal followed, but Desimoni appeared to be eliminated at third base.
However, an error was made and so, both runners now were in scoring position.
Moments later, they both scored on a single by Erik Epifano.
That lifted the lead to 3-0 and also brought in a new pitcher.
Ondřej Satoria took over from starter Michal Sobotka, but he was greeted with a double by Giuseppe Mazzanti, resulting in runners on second and third base.
Hereafter, Alex Liddi walked, but a double play and grounder ended the inning.
...Alessandro Vaglio...
...2-run double in 7th inning...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the top of the fourth, Ludovico Coveri took over the Italian pitching.
He gave up a 2-out single, but closed with a strikeout.
In the fifth, new pitcher Filippo Crepaldi retired the side.
Two Italian batters walked and stranded in the fifth, but the home team then added another run in the sixth.
With two outs and Stefano Desimoni (fielder's choice) on first base, a wild pitch led to a runner in scoring position.
Shortly herafter, Desimoni scored on a single by Sebastiano Poma.
With two outs, Alessandero Vaglio also singled to put runners on the corners, but they were left behind.
The Czechs scored their first run in the top of the seventh when Jakub Vojak led off with a homerun off of new pitcher Junior Oberto.
After a strikeout, Oberto walked pinch-hitter Premek Chroust and Jakub Hajtmar, who then both advanced on a grounder.
With runners on second and third base, Nicholas Pugliese was brought in as new pitcher and he closed the inning with a strikeout.
Italy then decided the game in the seventh inning by scoring five runs on only two basehits.
Two Czech pitchers walked four batters combined in this at bat.
Nick Nosti led off with a walk and stole second base.
He then also stole third, while Alex Sambucci received ball-four.
Pinch-hitter Nicholas Morreale followed with a runscoring grounder.
With two outs, Jan Tomek took over the pitching for Svatoslav Kraut, but he loaded the bases by walking Mattia Reginato and Stefano Desimoni.
Sebastiano Poma then delivered a 2-run single and Alessandro Vaglio added a 2-run double that gave Italy a comfortable 9-1 lead.
This also was to be the last at bat of the game.
The game was scheduled to be played over nine innings, but the game was ended after seven complete at bats.
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Italy closes Italian Baseball Week with convincing win
FLORENCE (Italië) -
Italy closed the seventh edition of the Italian Baseball Week on Tuesday-evening (September 6) with a convincing 9-1 victory against the Czech Republic.
With the opening coming Friday of the European Championship in sight, this must have given the Italians a good feeling, as it was the only the first win for the squad in the event.
The team lost 3-1 and played a 4-4 tie against Spain, then lost 2-1 to the Czechs on Monday.
Game Six Italian Baseball Week.