The European Championships Under 21 started on Wednesday in Pamplona with four games. Russia crushed Slovakia in the opener. Germany overcame a deficit against the French Team. Italy had no problems with Belgium. Host Spain also celebrated a win.
Schedule September 4:
11:00 Belgium – France
12:00 Germany – Italy
16:00 Czech Republic – Russia
18:30 Slovakia – Spain
Russia – Slovakia 13-3 (7)
SVK 100 002 0 3 4 1 RUS 005 112 4 13 8 3
Slovakia actually had the better start, taking a 1-0 lead in the first, but Russia came through in the third, putting five runs on the board to decide the outcome early. They scored eight more runs in the following four frames to win 13-3.
Victor Samchuk scored three times. Evgeny Vorotyntsev had two RBIs. Sergey Vorotilin went two-for-four with two doubles, a RBI and two runs scored. Alexander Vaclavik scored twice for Slovakia.
Andrey Filippov allowed four hits, three runs (1 ER) and three walks in six innings to pick up the win. Simon Prochaczka gave up four hits, five runs and four base on balls in three innings to take the loss.
France – Germany 6-8
GER 200 000 222 8 12 1 FRA 020 301 000 6 7 3
Germany scored two runs each in the last three periods to overcome a 2-6 deficit in an 8-6 win over France. Max Boldt and Julian Steinberg tied the game in the eighth through a RBI double and a RBI single. Michael Stephan and Donald Lutz drove in the winning runs with RBI singles in the ninth. Stephan finished with three hits and three RBIs. Philipp Howard scored twice.
The French team had taken the lead in the fourth through three runs, but the bullpen failed to protect the advantage in the end. Philippe Lecourieux had four hits and two RBIs in four at bats. Gregory Cros also drove in two. David Gauthier and Guillaume Felices each scored two runs.
Harry Glynne started for Germany and allowed four hits, five runs (4 ER) and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Thibault Conduzorg. opposed him and was responsible for three hits, two runs (1 ER) and a bb in two innings. Daniel Rahn received the win. Lecourieux had a rough day on the mound and took the loss.
Italy – Belgium 10-1
BEL 000 001 000 1 3 5 ITA 212 003 02X 10 11 2
Alex Sambucci led Italy to a lopsided 10-1 victory against Belgium. The first baseman went five-for-five with six RBIs, missing the cycle by a triple. Stefano De Simoni scored three times, Alessandro Ularetti twice.
Sim Ruts hit a solo homerun for the Belgians.
In addition to the brilliant performance by Sambucci at the plate, Italy also received an impressive start by Francesco Grigoletto on the mound. He threw five no-hit innings, allowing just three walks for the win. He struck out four.
Harold Gerard took the loss after six innings, eight hits, eight runs (6 ER) and three bb.
Spain – Czech Republic 6-2
CZE 001 000 001 2 7 2 ESP 000 040 02X 6 8 1
Spain took control in a close game with a four-run fifth in a 6-2 victory against the Czech Republic.
The Czech team had the better start, taking a 1-0 lead in the third on a RBI single by Michal Ondracek. But the host of the tournament came back. They loaded the bases in the fifth, Oscar Roman was hit by a pitch, Ryomer Garcia hit a two-run single and Roman scored on a wild pitch to make it 4-1.
Spain added two more runs in the eighth on a misplayed sac bunt by Pau Sancho and a sac fly by Daniel Sanchez. Jan Felkl scored the second Czech run in the ninth, when he reached home on a wild pitch. It was not enough to call it a rally.
Audie Nunez pitched five solid innings for the win. He allowed three hits, a run and a walk, while striking out four. Oscar Jimenez struck out five in four innings of relief to pick up the save. Jan Blazek was charged with five hits, two runs and a bb in 4 1/3 innings to take the loss.
