Game 7, September 11:
(4-3) Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 2-1
BOL 100 000 000 1 8 1 PAR 100 010 00X 2 5 0
Cariparma Parma is the 2010 Italian Baseball League champion. They defeated last year’s winner, UGF Bologna, 2-1 in the decisive seventh game of the Italian Baseball Series on Saturday evening in front of 3,000 people in attendance at the Europeo Cavalli Stadium in Parma. It is the first national title for the club since 1997. They also became the fifth different champion since 2006 and just the second team after Danesi Nettuno in 2001 to overcome a 0-2 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
The game was decided in the fifth inning, when Marco Yepez broke a 1-1 tie with a RBI double down the left field line to drive in Stefano De Simoni. Fortitudo had opportunities to come back later in the game, putting two men on in the sixth and the eighth each, but couldn’t even the score. Earlier in the game each team had put a run on the board in the opening frame. Eddy Garabito followed Juan Carlos Infante’s leadoff single with a RBI double to get Bologna in front. However Parma answered right away in the bottom of the inning when Yepez singled in Davide Dallospedale who had reached with a one-out double.
Otherwise the pitchers controlled the game, although getting in and out of trouble several times. Gustavo Martinez (W) picked up the win after allowing five hits, a run and four walks in five solid innings. Jesus Matos (L) took the loss after issuing five hits, two runs and four bb in 4 1/3 frames. In the battle of the bullpens Marco Grifantini (S, 4 IP, 3 H, BB, 4 SO) and Cody Cillo (3.2 IP, 2 BB) kept it a one-run game until the end.
For Parma’s manager Gilberto Gerali and his players Grifantini, De Simoni, Roberto Corradini and Justin Cicatello it is already the second big title this summer after winning the European Championship in Stuttgart, Germany with the Italian National Team in July. Shortstop Marco Yepez was named MVP of the Italian Baseball Series after going .464 (OBP .500/SLG .607) with four doubles, two runs scored and seven RBI.
Game 1: Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 1-2
Game 2: Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 3-7
Game 3: UGF Bologna – Cariparma Parma 0-6
Game 4: UGF Bologna – Cariparma Parma 5-7
Game 5: UGF Bologna – Cariparma Parma 5-1
Game 6: Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 7-4
Game 7: Cariparma Parma – UGF Bologna 2-1
Photo: © FIBS