European Championship 2010, Day 7, July 29:
Sweden – Italy 3-2
ITA 000 002 000 2 7 0 SWE 120 000 00X 3 6 0
After three days of rain and long delays, Sweden celebrated an upset 3-2 win over Italy on Thursday in Stuttgart. The game was supposed to start at 10.30am in the morning, but didn’t begin until 12pm and was interrupted again by a long delay in the sixth inning.
The team of head coach Dennis Cook had the better start, taking a 3-0 lead after a RBI single by Kris Sjoeberg in the first and back-to-back homeruns by Bjoern Johannessen and Rickard Leander in the second. Italy came out of the rain delay with back-to-back homeruns by Mario Chiarini and Giuseppe Mazzanti to cut the deficit to 2-3.
One frame later they had the chance to tie the game, when Simone Albanese advanced to third and tried to score on a flyball by Stefano De Simoni. But while it seemed that he beat the throw with a headfirst slide, home plate umpire Serge Makouchetchev called him out. It didn’t stop there, as Albanese also was ejected after arguing the call. Italy had a last chance in the top of the ninth, when Laidel Chapelli and Juan Angrisano reached first and second with two outs. But closer Nick Soubiea forced a groundout by Jack Santora to end the game.
Both starting pitchers, which also began one day earlier, returned to the mound on Thursday. Joakim Claesson (W 2-0) picked up his second win in the tournament by going six-plus innings, allowing six hits, two runs and three bb. Riccardo De Santis (L 0-1) surrendered six hits, three runs and three walks in four innings.
Photo: © Gregor Eisenhuth, www.eisenhuth-photographie.de