July 17:
Sweden – Czech Republic 3-6
CZE 000 040 200 6 6 3 SWE 010 010 010 3 7 3
After both teams suffered blowouts in their openers of the 4th Italian Baseball Week on Friday, the Czech Republic beat Sweden 6-3 on Saturday afternoon in Torino. A grand slam by Karel Hrusovsky in the top of the fifth put the Czech team ahead for good. Martin Vesely scored twice. On the mound Petr Minarik (W) picked up the win, allowing five hits, two runs and two walks in seven innings. Joakim Claesson (L) got the start for Sweden. He issued three hits, four runs and five bb in five innings.
Spain – Italy 3-4
ITA 301 000 000 4 11 1 ESP 002 010 000 3 5 2
In a preview of next Friday’s duel in Stuttgart on game day number one of the European Championship Italy beat Spain 4-3 at the Italian Baseball Week. The hosts of the warm-up tournament came out swinging against Pedro Pablo Belmonte (L, 3 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB) and took a quick 4-0 lead midway through the third. Spain countered with two runs in the bottom of the third and a run in the fifth to cut the deficit to a run. It was not enough, as Italy held on the lead until the end. Dewis Navarro drove in two for Spain. Jairo Ramos, Giuseppe Mazzanti and Laidel Chapelli picked up RBIs for Italy. Justin Cicatello (W) earned the win by retiring nine of the ten batters he faced in three scoreless frames.
Schedule Day 3:
July 18:
- 16:00 Spain – Sweden
- 21:00 Italy – Czech Republic
(both games will be played in Piacenza)