European Championship 2010, Day 1, July 23:
Sweden – Greece 9-12
GRE 022 005 030 12 14 1 SWE 000 080 001 9 18 4
Greece kicked off the 2010 European Championship with a wild 12-9 win over Sweden in the opener in Heidenheim on Thursday afternoon. After the Greek squad had taken a fast 4-0 lead after three innings, Sweden answered with eight runs, including a grand slam by Kris Sjöberg, in the bottom of the fifth. But they saw their lead vanish nearly as fast they got it, as “Hellas” put five runs on the board in the sixth. Three more runs sealed the win in the eighth. Peter Johannessen was able to cut the deficit to three runs in the bottom of the ninth with a solo shot. But it was too little too late.
Chris Demetral went 4-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBI to lead the Greek offense. His teammate Peter Maestrales went deep and drove in three. For Sweden, Adam Sorgi and Christoffer Johansson had a nice day at the plate besides Sjöberg and Johannessen, going a combined 7-for10. Both starting pitchers struggled. Andrew Brack (GRE) issued eight runs on twelve hits in 4 2/3 innings, while Nick Soubiea (L 0-1) was charged with ten hits, nine runs (5 ER) and two bb in 5 1/3 innings and the loss. Constantine Panagotacos (W 1-0) received the win after 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.
Foto: Christian Haas