World Baseball Classic Pool C: Canada – Italy 2-6
ITA 111 100 200 6 10 0 CAN 000 200 000 2 7 1
European Baseball upset number two at the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Italy scored a run each in the first four innings en route to a never really challenged 6-2 victory over Pool C host Canada, staying alive in the tournament. The WBC is over for the maple leafs after their second loss at the Rogers Centre in Toronto in three days. The team of manager Marco Mazzieri will face Venezuela today, trying to reach round two.
It was an impressive performance by the Italian team and especially by the offense. They had great at bats throughout the whole game, getting plenty scoring opportunities on ten hits and eight walks. But in difference to the Venezuela opener on Saturday, they were able to convert these chances into runs.
They loaded the bases in the first with one out and an infield single by A’s outfielder Chris Denorfia drove in Davide Dallospedale for the early lead. The second baseman of CARIPARMA doubled the advantage one frame later with a RBI single to right field, bringing home Mario Chiarini. In the third a sac fly by Mariners prospect Alex Liddi made it 3-0. Denorfia followed with a RBI double in the fourth.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Canadian Jason Bay cut the deficit in a half with a no-out two-run double. But reliever Chris Cooper came in and stopped the rally. Italy got the four-run gap back in the seventh on a Liddi RBI single and a RBI fielder’s choice by Nick Punto. Obviously Canada had its chances with seven hits, including four for two bases, and eight base on balls, but failed to bring their runners home.
Denorfia led all batters on Monday with four hits in four at bats, a walk, three doubles, two runs scored and two RBI. Liddi went two-for-four with two RBI too. Every one of their players in the starting lineup reached base. Justin Morneau was four-for-five with two doubles for Canada. Bay (2-2, 2 BB) reached base in his four plate appearances, driving in two.
Despite having similar control issues like Vince Perkins (L 0-1, 2 IP, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 SO) on the opposing team, Italy’s starter Dan Serafini (W 1-0) held Canada off the board in the first three innings, before Bay doubled in Joey Votto and Morneau with no outs in the fourth, ending his outing. Overall he gave up four hits, two runs and three walks, striking out two. 34 of his 64 pitches were strikes. Cooper allowed two hits and three bb in 2 2/2 innings. Jason Grilli got the save for 3 1/3 innings of one-hit, two-walk brilliant relief. Grilli was the winning pitcher in 2006, when Italy shut out Australia in the WBC.