Spain – France 8-0
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Spain kicked off their World Baseball Classic Qualifier in Jupiter, Florida with an 8-0 shutout over France. The team from Mauro Mazzotti scored seven of their eight runs in the first three frames en route to an easy win. 975 people saw the game in attendance at Roger Dean Stadium.
Barbaro Canizares hit a homerun and drove in two. Engel Beltre and Paco Figueroa combined for six hits, four runs and three RBI to provide a spark out of the first two spots of the batting order. Frederic Hanvi reached base twice for France, which couldn’t do much against a strong Spanish pitching staff.
Nick Schumacher, an independent league right-hander from Huntington Beach, California, gave up just four hits and two walks in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. He threw 53 of his 82 pitches for strikes. Remigio Leal and Jose Cruz closed it out to seal the deal. French hurlers Patrice Briones and Matthieu Brelle-Andrade weren’t able to stop Spain in the beginning. Thomas Meley, Anthony Piquet and Thomas Langloys did a much better job. But it was too late, as their team already was on the verge of losing.
Spain now will square off with Israel in a winner’s matchup on Friday afternoon in Jupiter, hoping to reach the final game on Sunday. France and South Africa will battle against elimination in the evening.
Go to www.worldbaseballclassic.com for the full video on demand of the Spain vs. France game.