The Italian Baseball League started on Thursday with two games into the 2009 season. T&A SAN MARINO and FORTITUDO BOLOGNA celebrated shutouts in the openers. The league is off on Friday, as the FIBS joined CONI and other organizations in Italy to mourn the victims of the earthquake in Abruzzo earlier this week.
Palfinger Reggio Emilia – T&A San Marino 0-1
SMA 000 000 100 1 8 0 EMI 000 000 000 0 2 1
The defending IBL champion SAN MARINO got off to a good start. Behind strong pitching they celebrated a 1-0 victory over the promoted club REGGIO EMILIA. Starting pitcher Horacio Estrada (W 1-0) allowed just two hits and a walk in six innings, while walking five. Reliever Luis Ramirez replaced him for the last three frames and absolutely dominated with seven punch-outs in three perfect innings.
The lone run of the game was scored in the seventh inning. David Sheldon, who was three-for-three, led off the period with a walk, advanced to third on a sac bunt and a passed ball, before Simone Albanese drove him in with a single to left field. Former Boston Red Sox hurler Abe Alvarez made his debut as a starter for PALFINGER and gave up five hits and a walk in six scoreless innings, matching Estrada’s outing. Reliever William Juarez took the loss.
Fortitudo Bologna – Cariparma 3-0
PAR 000 000 000 0 4 0 BOL 000 000 12X 3 7 3
Business as usual when Jesus Matos (W 1-0) is taking the mound for BOLOGNA. The right-hander struck out ten in seven innings to lead his team to a 3-0 shutout over PARMA on opening day in Italy. He gave up just three hits and two walks. An impressive 68 of his 87 pitches were strikes.
On a wet and foggy evening the offense needed until a RBI double by Juan Carlos Infante in the seventh to provide the necessary run support. One frame later Juan Angrisano drove in two more with another double.
Ricky Palma debuted as starter for CARIPARMA and allowed three hits and four bb in five innings, striking out three. Oscar Lira (L 0-1), who also made his first game in the IBL, took the loss in relief.
The Italian Baseball League continues on Saturday and Sunday.
Photo by Belloccio/FIBS