Lincoln Mikkelsen no-hits Rangers in rain-shortened opener

{mrb-result:2008-04-17|2008-04-17|IT}

Montepaschi Grosseto – Rangers Redipuglia 4-0 (6)

RED 000 000  0 0 3
GRO 000 04X  4 6 1

Rain hindered the Italian Baseball League opener from the start and cut it short after the sixth. Lincoln Mikkelsen led GROSSETO with six no-hit innings to a 4-0 shutout against the RANGERS. Just one runner of REDIPUGLIA reached, after second baseman Davide Dallospedale had dropped a short fly ball of Lizahio Baez. Mikkelsen dominated through the whole contest and struck out five. He needed just 60 pitches and induced eleven groundouts.

However MONTEPASCHI needed until the fifth to bring some points on the board. Luca Bischeri led off the inning with a double and scored the go-ahead run after a misplayed sac bunt. Dallospedale followed with a RBI-single and Jairo Ramos put the final stamp on the score with a two-run-homerun.

Andrea Cossar started for the promoted RANGERS and was charged with six hits, four runs (3 ER) and three walks in 4 1/3 innings, while striking out four.

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Cariparma Parma – Telemarket Rimini 3-2 (10)

RIM 000 002 000 0  2  9 3
PAR 001 000 100 1  3 10 3

The second game of the opening evening in Italy was a thriller. PARMA won the game 3-2 in ten innings. Riccardo Bertagnon (3-5) drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the first extra-inning. RIMINI had loaded the bases in the top of the frame, but failed to convert the big chance.

RIMINI had taken the lead in the sixth through RBIs by Amaury Garcia and Juan Melo. But CARIPARMA answered right away and tied it in the seventh on a RBI-triple by Leonardo Zileri. Orlando Munoz (PAR) impressed with four hits in five at-bats.

Both teams didn’t have their expected starters on the mound. Gustavo Martinez began for TELEMARKET. He struck out six in five innings, allowing five hits, an unearned run and a walk. Josmir Romero got the call for PARMA. He allowed five hits, two runs and a bb in 6 1/3 solid innings. Roberto Corradini received the win, Ilo Bartolucci the loss.

Matt Beech struck out five in four relief innings in his RIMINI debut. Despite the steady rain, 410 people  attended the game.

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