Game one of the European Champions Cup Finals went to T&A San Marino on Thursday evening in Rimini by the final of 2 to 1, giving T&A the 1-0 lead in this best of five finals series. The win was picked up by a brilliant performance by Junior Guerra while the save went to Cubilan after he came on for 1.2 innings of scoreless ball on the bump. Both runs for T&A San Marino came in the top of the 4th after Ramos led off with a line drive single which was then followed up by a double to left center off the bat of Joe Mazzuca who advanced to third on a throw to the plate. Mazzuca then came around to score when the very next batter, Persichina drove him with a sac fly to right to put the score at 2-0.
In the bottom of the 7th inning the Rimini Pirates were able to cross a run after a hit up the middle by Chiarini, a walk by Spinelli and a double off the bat my Gomez that landed just out of the reach of Morreale in right, which drove in Chiarini from second to put the score at 2-1. After intentionally walking Bertagnon to load the basses with one out, Junior Guerra was able to buckle down by getting Di Fabio to hit a grounder to Pantaleoni at third who then came home for the force out, eliminating Spinelli at the plate. With two outs Guerra then went onto strikeout Zileri at to end the frame.
In the bottom of the 8th with one out, Cubilan came on in relief of Guerra (7.1 IP, 6 H, 3 BB, 1R, 11 SO), were the veteran went onto close out the game successfully with 1.2 innings of perfect work on the rubber, giving up just a single hit and striking out one in the process.
This best of five series will continue this evening in San Marino at 9:00 pm local time.
