Group B: Croatia – Greece
Croatia 410 300 02 10 16 0 Greece 000 000 00 0 7 2
Croatia earned their first win at the European Championship 2016 in Hoofddorp with a 10-0 shutout in eight innings against Greece. Five runs in the first two frames decided the outcome early. A strong pitching performance by Antonio Horvatic laid the groundwork. Greece dropped to 0-4 in the tournament with the loss on Monday morning.
One of Europe’s top prospects, Antonio Horvatic kept Greece off the board through eight innings. He went the distance throwing 123 pitches, while allowing seven hits and three walks. He struck out seven.
For the Greek team not even Panagiotis Sikaras could help on Monday. Usually the pitcher, who secured the necessary wins for Greece, he got in a hole early on. Ross Vukovich highlighted a four-run first with a bases clearing double and Croatia was up by five runs after two frames. Phil Smith added four hits, two runs and three RBI. Andrija Tomic scored four times.
Sikaras finished the game with ten allowed runs (9 ER) on 16 hits and no walks. He struck out nine in 7 1/3 innings, taking the loss.