European Championship 2010, Day 9, July 31:
Netherlands – Italy 3-11
ITA 000 120 206 11 18 1 NED 003 000 000 3 4 3
Italy has reached the championship game at the 2010 European Championship with an 11-3 win over the Netherlands. The Dutch team also will be the opponent on Sunday at 2pm in the title game. Jairo Ramos’ second homerun of the game in the top of the seventh broke a 3-3 tie and gave Italy the lead for good.
Six runs in the ninth, highlighted by homeruns of Laidel Chapelli and Mario Chiarini blew things wide open. The Netherlands had taken a 3-0 lead in the third, when Dwayne Kemp sent a pitch over the fence in right field for a two-run homerun and Dirk van’t Klooster scored on an error by Ramos at first base.
Chris Cooper (W 1-0) struck out eight in six strong innings, allowing two hits, three runs (2 ER) and a walk. Yovani D’Amico closed it out. Gregory Gustina (NED) received the starting nod for the Dutch team and issued eight hits, three runs (1 ER) and two bb in 5 2/3 innings. Dave Draijer (L 0-1) took the loss.