Montepaschi Grosseto – Cariparma 4-0
PAR 000 000 000 0 4 2 GRO 100 200 10X 4 9 0
A brilliant performance by Lincoln Mikkelsen led to a 4-0 shutout for GROSSETO, which clinched their playoff berth in the first game of the series against PARMA. The veteran starter allowed just three hits and a walk in eight scoreless innings, while striking out ten. He threw 105 pitches, 72 for strikes.
Raul Marval provided Mikkelsen with the necessary run support in the bottom of the first, when he drove in Jorge Nunez with a single. They added two runs in the fourth and Nunez made it 4-0 with a solo shot in the seventh. Andrea De Santis finished with three hits and a RBI.
Hector Mercado took the loss after giving up eight hits, four runs (2 ER) and two walks in 6 1/3 innings.
T&A San Marino – Danesi Nettuno 14-4
NET 003 000 100 4 7 4 SMA 102 002 54X 14 20 0
CARIPARMA only would have had a chance for fourth place after their loss, when SAN MARINO would have lost to NETTUNO. But they removed all doubts about it in the series opener. T&A scored nine runs in the seventh and eighth periods to crush DANESI 14-4. Martin Vazquez went four-for-six with five RBI. James Buccheri also had four hits and scored three times. David Sheldon hit a solo homerun.
Horacio Estrada (SMA) allowed five hits, three runs and five walks in 4 2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz (NET) gave up seven hits, three runs (2 ER) and two base on balls in five innings. Juan Figueroa picked up the win. Frailyn Florian took the loss.
Fortitudo Bologna – Telemarket Rimini 3-0
RIM 000 000 000 0 2 1 BOL 000 030 00X 3 6 0
Martin Vargas (W, 3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 SO) and the relieving Jesus Matos (S, 3 IP, 4 SO) combined in a two-hit shutout to lead BOLOGNA to a 3-0 victory against Rimini. They struck out eleven batters. Matos needed just 17 pitches (14 strikes) to close out the contest.
Gustavo Martinez matched Vargas for the first four periods, but lost his rhythm and the game in the fifth. He was charged with three runs on five hits.
Manuel Gasparri drove in the first of three FORTITUDO runs in the fifth with a single. Ryner Bautista and Stefano Landuzzi added two more through a sac fly and a fielder’s choice.
De Angelis Godo – Rangers Redipuglia 3-0
RED 000 000 000 0 0 2 GOD 000 000 30X 3 7 1
Kyle Collina made his first start for GODO a memorable one. Usually dominating out of the bullpen, he threw a no-hitter against the RANGERS. Collina struck out 14 batters and allowed just three walks in the game. He needed 132 pitches, 84 for strikes for the feat.
The offense of DE ANGELIS came through in the seventh, when Robert De Franceschi and David Skrehot singled in runs and Danilo Sanchez walked with the bases loaded.
Carlos Delgado took the loss, giving up seven hits, three runs and three walks in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out eight.