European Championship 2010, Day 8, July 30:
Italy – France 9-2
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Italy defeated France 9-2 in the afternoon game in Stuttgart on Friday to improve to 2-1 in the final round. With the second loss on the day, France dropped to 0-4. The Squadra Azzurra decided the outcome in the bottom of the fifth, when they put five runs on the board. Tony Granato and Jairo Ramos hit two-run homeruns. Stefano De Simoni and Giuseppe Mazzanti scored two runs each. Kenji Hagiwara and Robin Allemand hit homeruns for France.
On the mound Carlos Richetti (W 1-0) had a few problems to find his groove early on, but struck out ten pitchers in seven strong innings overall, allowing three hits and a run. Pierrick Lemestre (L 0-1) matched him in the first few frames, but kind of lost it in the fifth, issuing four hits, six runs (3 ER) and four bb in 4 2/3 innings.
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de