European Championship 2010, Day 8, July 30:
Italy – Germany 8-6
GER 102 002 100 6 7 2 ITA 202 000 04X 8 11 1
Italy scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to erase a 4-6 deficit against Germany en route to a thrilling 8-6 win. A win on Saturday against the Netherlands or a loss by Sweden against Germany will seal the final berth for the Squadra Azzurra against the Dutch team.
The German team had taken the lead on homeruns by Edward Martinez and Dominik Wulf in the sixth and seventh. But Italy answered six outs before the end. Juan Angrisano and Jack Santora reached with back-to-back singles and scored when reliever Philipp Hoffschild threw away a sac bunt by Stefano De Simoni. Tony Granato and Laidel Chapelli followed with RBI singles to put Italy ahead for good.
Jairo Ramos had driven in three runs earlier in the game. Dominik Wulf scored twice. Ludwig Glaser drove in two for Germany. Cody Cillo (ITA) issued four hits, three runs and three bb in five innings. Andre Hughes (GER) surrendered five hits, four runs (3 ER) and four walks in two-plus innings. Afterwards Dominik Hartinger (GER) kept Germany in the game with four two-hit innings of relief. Hoffschild (L 0-1) took the loss. Marco Grifantini (W 1-0) struck out four in two one-hit innings to pick up the win.
Italy’s manager Marco Mazzieri was ejected by home plate umpire Henri van Heijningen in the top of the eighth after arguing a balk call.
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de