Telemarket Rimini has reached the Italian Baseball Series. They defeated Nettuno 5-2 on Friday evening to sweep the best-of-five series 3-0. Four runs in the bottom of the fifth decided the outcome with Ramon Castro highlighting the rally with a three-run double. Alexander Romero reached base in all five of his plate appearances. On the mound Yorman Bazardo pitched five solid innings, allowing three hits, two runs and four walks, while striking out seven. Then Enorbel Marquez-Ramirez came in and shut down Nettuno with five punch outs in four innings of no-hit, two-walk relief. Valerio Simone got charged with the loss.
Meanwhile Unipol Bologna avoided the sweep and stayed alive in the second semi-final. They defeated T&A San Marino 3-1 to cut the deficit to 1-2 in the series. A two-run double by Alessandro Vaglio broke up the tie in the bottom of the eighth. Jairo Ramos had driven in Lorenzo Avagnina to help tie the game for San Marino in the sixth. Bologna had led since the opening frame and Claudio Liverziani’s RBI single. Raul Rivero gave up three hits, a run and four walks in seven strong innings, but had to settle for the no decision. Nicholas Pugliese earned the win. Jim Magrane got charged with the loss, issuing four hits, two runs and two base on balls in seven-plus innings.