Rimini was able to build on their success of last weeks EU Champions Cup tournament in Brno, Czech Republic with a five to nothing win over Fortitudo Bologna on Thursday evening in Bologna. Picking up the win in his Italian Baseball League debut was Gonzalez, as he was able to baffle the bats of Bologna for 5 innings, giving up only a single hit and walking non, before handing the ball off to his pen of Marquez (3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO) and Escalona (1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 SO). Suffering the loss for Bologna was Williamson, only his second in 2014, as he was uncharacteristically hittable for the Rimini bats, allowing a total of 12 hits and 5 earned runs in only 5 innings of work on the hill.
In the box for Rimini, everyone in the starting lineup recorded at least a hit for Rimini, with the duo of Romero (3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s and a walk) and Salazar (2 for 5 with an RBI) doing most of the damage for the Pirates. Also driving in a run was the DH, Mazzanti (1 for 3) on a single through the left side in the first inning that plated Santora from third. The runs for Rimini came early and often with 1 being picked up in the top of the 1st, while 2 runs were scored in both the 3rd and 4th.
The series between the Rimini Pirates and UnipolSai Bologna will continue this evening in Rimini with a start time of 9:00 pm, and will then conclude on Saturday evening when the matchup shifts back to Bologna, also with a game time of 9:00 pm. In Rimini’s Italian game it will be Corradini that will get the start, while in the second foreigner game it will be Rimini’s ace, Ekstrom. For Bologna look for Panerati to get the call in the Italian game, and for either Rivero or Baez to get the start in their second foreigner contest.
Elsewhere in the Italian Baseball league this weekend T&A San Marino will be welcoming in Lino’s Coffee Parma, and just as Rimini is coming off of a successful EU Champions Cup tournament, as is T&A San Marino, winners of the Hoofddorp, Holland semifinals week. Tonight look for either Delgado or Guerra to get the start against Sanchez for Parma, in the Italian game it will be Valerio Simone for T&A and Giovanelli for Parma, and finally in the second foreigner game of the weekend who ever doesn’t go for San Marino in game one will get the start against Yepez for Parma. Expected to return to the lineup for the first time since the beginning of April will be San Marino’s saw paw, Chris Cooper, who will without a doubt lend a helping hand to an Italian mound that has had their ups and downs this year. As for T&A’s lineup, Albanese may not be ready to go behind the plate, if so it will be Mattia Reginato who will be calling the pitches for his club. On Parma’s side of the ball, Juan Camilo will suit up for the first time this year, as his powerful left handed stick should lend a helping hand to an offense that has struggled to score runs this far in 2014.
