Cariparma Parma – Fortitudo Bologna 2-8
BOL 202 100 300 8 7 2 PAR 100 010 000 2 7 3
Former Major League all star Mike Piazza threw out the first pitch to PARMA’s Johnny Balentina. But it brought no luck for the home team, as FORTITUDO prevailed 8-2 on Thursday evening in the Italian Baseball League. BOLOGNA took a fast 4-1 lead and sealed the victory in the seventh, when Joseph Mazzuca connected for a three-run homerun. Eddy Garabito hit a solo shot for BOLOGNA. Giovanni Pantaleoni scored twice. Jhonny Carvajal drove in two for CARIPARMA. Jesus Matos allowed seven hits, two runs and a walk in six innings for the win. He struck out eight. Victor Moreno picked up the save, striking out five in the remaining three innings. Ricky Palma was charged with four hits, five runs (4 ER) and four bb in six innings.
T&A San Marino – Palfinger Reggio Emilia 3-1
EMI 100 000 000 1 3 0 SMA 100 200 00X 3 10 1
SAN MARINO defeated REGGIO EMILIA 3-1 and reduced the deficit to the fourth-ranked PARMA to one game. PALFINGER had actually the better start, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when Liviston Santaniello scored on a double play groundball by Taber Lee. But the reigning champion answered right away. Martin Vasquez drove in Carlos Duran in the bottom of the frame with a single to tie the contest. They took the lead for good in the fourth thanks to a two-run triple by Ardley Jansen. On the mound the unstoppable tandem of Horacio Estrada and Luis Ramirez did its job. Estrada gave up one unearned run on three hits and three walks in seven innings. Ramirez came in and struck out five to close out the three-hitter. Abe Alvarez pitched 5 1/3 solid innings, conceding eight hits, three runs and a bb.
{mrb-standing:italy-2009}
{mrb-schedule:2009-05-29|2009-05-30|IT}
Photo: © Ferrini/FIBS