World Baseball Classic Pool C: Venezuela – Italy 7-0
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No surprise in the evening game of Pool C in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Venezuela shuts out Italy 7-0 to draw Team USA for a winner-winner matchup on Sunday. Italy faces Canada on Monday, hoping to avoid elimination with a upset.
The Italian team from manager Marco Mazzieri held the game scoreless for the first four frames, before the Venezuelan offense came through in the fifth with a four-run rally. Carlos Guillen delivered the 1-0 lead with a solo homerun. They loaded the bases with one out and Melvin Mora walked to force in Jose Lopez from third to double the gap. Bobby Abreu followed with a two-run single into right field.
Mora added some insurance later in the game with a solo homerun in the seventh and a RBI single in the eighth. Ramon Hernandez hit a RBI double. Lopez went three-for-three with a walk and two runs scored. At least Italian pitching stopped Miguel Cabrera, who left five men on base in four unproductive plate appearances.
The Italian offense had its opportunities early in the game against Carlos Silva, bringing four runners in scoring position, but failed to bring them home. Vince Pascucci went one-for-two with two walks. Frank Catalanotto and Giuseppe Mazzanti had two hits apiece.
Italy’s starter Mark DiFelice allowed just three hits in four innings, striking out one. Jason Grilli (L 0-1) was hit hard, inducing two hits, three runs and a base on ball in a third of an inning, taking the loss. His replacement on the mound, Lenny DiNardo, didn’t fare better, giving up two hits, a run and a walk without even getting an out. Cody Cillo and B.J. La Mura also allowed runs. Alex Maestri showed off his talent with 1 2/3 innings of two-walk relief. Chris Cooper also appeared in the game.
Silva gave up six hits and a bb in four rocky innings. Felix Hernandez (W 1-0) relieved him and stopped Italy with four innings of one-hit, two-walk ball, striking out four. Orber Moreno pitched the ninth for Venezuela.