European Championship 2010, Day 1, July 23:
Great Britain – Croatia 1-10
GBR 610 102 000 10 13 1 CRO 001 000 000 1 3 4
Great Britain had a near-perfect start into the 2010 European Championship. They scored six runs in the opening period en route to a 10-1 win over Croatia. A pair of errors and some mental miscues helped the British team during the rally, which was highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Michael Johnson (4 RBI). They added runs in the second, fourth and sixth, including the first homerun of the tournament by Evan Romanchuk (3-5, 3 runs). Croatia only was able to avoid the shutout with a RBI single by Bobo Gales.
On the mound Great Britain’s starter Alex Smith (W 1-0), provided with a commanding lead from the start, went seven innings, allowing just three hits, a run and a walk. He struck out four. Afterwards Stephen Spragg and Jeff Mottl closed it out. Croatia’s Michael Lennox (L 0-1) couldn’t find his rhythm from the beginning and lasted just two frames, surrendering six hits, seven runs (5 ER) and three bb. After Matija Grofelnik gave up three more runs over the next 3 2/3 innings, Hrvoje Toljanic was able to stop the British offense and denied an early ending due to ten-run rule.
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de