The Rimini Pirates got by UnipolSai Bologna once again on Friday evening to take the 2-0 Italian Baseball Series lead, no small feet to say the least seeing as both of Rimini’s wins have come on Bologna’s turf. On Friday evening it was the Roberto Corradini show, as the veteran right handed sinkerballer tossed up an impressive 6 innings of work, needing just 82 pitches to bring home the victory for his club. Picking up the save in relief of Corradini was Carlos Richetti, as he was able to get through Bologna’s lineup in the 7th, 8th and 9th… with limited damage. Suffering the loss for Bologna was Luca Panerati with a line that kept his club in the game through the first 6 before his pen conceded runs 4, 5, 6 and 7 to Rimini’s offense. This best of 7 IBL Finals series will continue in Rimini on Monday evening with game 3 scheduled to get underway at 9 pm local time.
On Friday evening in Bologna it was the home UnipolSai that was able to crack the scoreboard first after a leadoff walk to Infante, who later came around to score on a hard, one out, single that was banged through the right side of the diamond off the bat of Liverziani for the 1-0 lead. Liverziani single was then followed up by another single off the bat Suarez that nipped Zileri’s glove at 1st, which put runners at 1st and 2nd with just one out in the frame. Corradini was however able to dance his way around trouble, as he was able to get Bologna’s next man at the dish, Rodriguez, to line into a double play to end the threat.
In the top of inning number two Rimini put up a crooked number when they were able to plate two runs for the 2 to 1 advantage over Luca Panerati and UnipolSai Bologna. After Zileri was retired to begin the frame, Rimini was able to reach their next 5 batters, beginning with a single to left off the bat of Bertagnon, a walk to Mundarain, a single by Babini that plated Bertagnon from third (after a stolen base) for the 1-all tie, an error by Sambucci at first that allowed Di Fabio to reach base safely to load the sacs for Rimini. Desimoni would then break the 1-all tie after he was able to single up the middle on a 2-2 count for the 2-1 advantage. The top of the second would come to a conclusion however when Olmedo would line into a double play that went 5-3 in the box score.
Rimini would pick up another run in the top of the 4th when Babini came around to score (after he reached base with his second hit of the game) on a a field choice off the bat of Olmedo for the 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the 6th Bologna was able to cut the lead in half on a two out RBI single off the bat of Rodriguez that plated Suarez from 3rd. Suarez had reached base safely on a 2 out infield single, and was able to advance all the way around to third on a error. The sixth would come to a conclusion however after Corradini was able induce a fly ball to left off the bat of Vaglio for the third out.
After Rimini would get back the run they surrendered in the 6th on a sac fly off the bat of Romero in the 7th… Bologna would answer right back with a run of their own in the bottom half frame after Infante singled off the right field fence to plate Sambucci for Bologna’s 3 run of the game with Richetti on the hill for the Pirates. The two out single, which could have most certainly been more (Infante watched the ball at home plate, thinking it was an easy homer) could have been a momentum changer for UnipolSai, instead went in favor the Rimini Pirates as Richetti was able to get Ambrosino to fly out to center for the 3rd out in the inning.
In the top of the 8th Rimini would put the game away off of Filippo Crepaldi, as the Pirate’s offense would break out with 3 runs with two outs in the inning off of 5 consecutive hits, of which was all topped off on a 3-2 single off the bat Mazzanti that plated 2 runs for Rimini’s 7 to 3 advantage.
The game would come to a conclusion in the bottom of the 9th with Richetti picking up the save after he was able to get Grimaudo to fly to left on a 1-2 count to end the game. Game 3 of this best of 7 series will now shift to Rimini on Monday evening at 9 pm local time. The game should feature the southpaw, Escalona for Rimini vs. Fleming for Bologna.
