Florida Marlins – Italy 1-5
ITA 001 003 100 5 10 0 FLA 000 100 000 1 5 0
The Italian National Team has a favorite opponent during their preparation phase for the 2009 World Baseball Classic. For the second time in the last ten days Italy defeated a selection of the Florida Marlins. On Wednesday they won by a score of 5-1. They are 0-4 against the rest of the teams on their warm-up tour.
Italy had a good start into the friendly, taking a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Nick Punto’s RBI single against Marlins staff ace Josh Johnson. Florida countered right away and evened the score through a RBI single by Logan Morrison in the fourth. But Italy wasn’t finished.
A’s center fielder Chris Denorfia drove in Texas Ranger Frank Catalanotto with a RBI triple in the top of the sixth to regain the lead. The next batter, Oriole prospect Mike Costanzo, sent a pitch of Ricky Nolasco over the outfield fence for a two-run homerun. Italy added an insurance run in the seventh on Valentino Pascucci’s RBI single to seal the victory.
Dan Serafini started and impressed with five strikeouts in four-plus innings, giving up one run on four hits. Cubs prospect Alessandro Maestri (W 1-0) picked up the win, allowing just two walks in two innings of relief. Adam Ottavino, Chris Cooper and Kasey Olenberger closed out the win. They will face the New York Mets on Thursday to conclude training camp.
Other results of afternoon games between MLB and World Baseball Classic teams:
Philadelphia Phillies – Canada 9-2 Box score
Canada had no chance against World Series champion Phillies, losing 2-9. Vince Perkins got the start against Ryan Howard and Co., allowing two hits, three runs and two base on balls in 2 1/3 innings. Leadoff hitter and 2006 WBC hero Adam Stern had three hits and a RBI for the Maple Leafs.
Detroit Tigers – Panama 3-9 Box score
Ramiro Mendoza and Manuel Corpas combined for four strong innings to lead Panama to a 9-3 victory against Detroit. Audes De Leon and Concepcion Rodriguez each had two RBI. Nine different players scored.
Toronto Blue Jays – USA 6-5 Box score
Joel Hanrahan and J.J. Putz blew a three-run lead in the last two frames and Team USA lost 5-6 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Americans were up 5-2 following a four-run outburst in the top of the eighth, highlighted by a Jimmy Rollins two-run double. Ted Lilly started and cruised through four strong innings, giving up one run on two hits, striking out two.
Houston Astros – Venezuela 4-4 Box score
Venezuela’s starter Enrique Gonzalez allowed one unearned run on a hit and two walks in three innings. Miguel Cabrera and Jose Lopez each drove in two runs.
Baltimore Orioles – Dominican Republic 6-1 Box score
Ty Wigginton touched Dominican starter Johnny Cueto with a two-out three-run homerun in the bottom of the first en route to a 6-1 Baltimore win. The young right-hander gave up three runs on five hits, going three innings. Pedro Martinez followed in relief, allowing three hits, two runs and a walk in two innings. Koji Uehara pitched for the Orioles (3 IP, 2 H). He had declined an invitation to the Japanese World Baseball Classic team.
Results of the Wednesday evening exhibitions between WBC and MLB teams
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