[youtube LW3ZU_2CPIs 520]
Premier12, First Round, Pool A: Canada – Italy 4-0
Italy 000 000 000 0 5 1 Canada 200 200 000 4 5 0
Canada improved to 4-0 in first-round play at the Premier12 with a 4-0 victory over Italy on Saturday evening at Dou-Liou Stadium in Taiwan. Two runs in the first and two in the fourth provided the necessary run support in a pitcher’s duel. Italy dropped to 0-4.
The Maple Leafs were led by Jared Mortensen, who issued just five hits in seven scoreless innings. He struck out three and faced only three batters over the minimum. Kyle Lotzkar closed it out. Italy started Luis Lugo of High-A Lynchberg of the Cleveland Indians organization. He conceded four hits, four runs and three base on balls in five frames, while striking out seven. Carlos Teran relieved him in the sixth and was stellar in three one-hit innings out of the bullpen.
At the plate Canada struck quickly thanks to another home run by Tyler O’Neill in the first, a two-run shot over the wall in left field. In the fourth Brock Kjeldgaard and Tyson Gillies crossed the plate on a sac fly by Skyler Stromsmoe and a RBI single by Sean Jamieson. Italy meanwhile put the leadoff man on in the first, third, fourth, seventh and eighth, but wasn’t able to light up the scoreboard.
Italy’s last game at the Premier12 will be Sunday’s first-round encounter against Cuba at Dou-Liou Stadium in the evening. Canada is facing the Netherlands in a battle for first in Pool A at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung.