On Tuesday the WBC participants vs MLB teams exhibitions during Spring Training got underway in Florida and Arizona. Italy made quite a statement defeating World Series Champion Chicago Cubs by a score of 8-7 even though it was only a warm-up game.
Italy took a quick 6-1 lead through five innings. The Cubs then answered with six runs in the sixth to get ahead. But a two-run home run by Rob Segedin in the top of the ninth lifted Italy to a win after all. Francisco Cervelli also had two RBI for the Squadra Azzurri. Marco Mazzieri sent eight pitchers to the mound. Luis Lugo got the start, Mike DeMark the win.
Chicago fielded one of their better Spring Training lineups with Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, Addison Russell and Jason Heyward starting the game. Later Italy’s own Alberto Mineo made an appearance, pinch running and scoring a run for Schwarber in the sixth.
In other pre-WBC games during Spring Training Mexico lost 3-7 to the San Diego Padres, the Baltimore Orioles beat defending champion Dominican Republic 5-4 and Canada won the prestige matchup versus the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 7-1.