Team Italy players are seeing action in MLB Spring Training
Team Italy catchers Drew Butera and Francisco Cervelli are drawing attention on their respective clubs for different reasons during 2019 MLB Spring Training. Philadelphia Phillies catcher Drew Butera got his first start behind the dish against the Detroit Tigers at Joker Merchant Stadium’s Publix Field in Lakeland, Florida on February 24, 2019. In his third and final at-bat facing Tigers reliever Buck Farmer in the top of the fifth inning, Drew Butera drew fanfare when he hit a three-run home run into the left field bleachers to give the Phillies a commanding 7-1 lead. Philadelphia cruised to an easy 10-6 victory over Detroit in the afternoon contest.
Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli and country music star Garth Brooks have developed what some may consider a "bromance" at Spring Training Camp in Bradenton, Florida. The ever popular Francisco Cervelli has been manager Clint Hurdle’s work-in progress experiment during Spring Training games as the Venezuelan/Italian veteran has not been playing his regular position of late. Serving as designated hitter and batting third in the Bucs lineup, Francisco Cervelli went 0-for-2 against the Miami Marlins at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida on February 24, 2019. The Pirates prevailed in the 10-6 win over the Marlins at home. Francisco Cervelli returned the following day starting at first base and batting in the three-hole against the Boston Red Sox. In his second at-bat facing Red Sox relief pitcher Domingo Tapia, Francisco Cervelli drilled the first pitch into left field for his first base hit of 2019 MLB Spring Training. Pittsburgh improved its record to 3-0 by edging Boston 4 to 3.
Team Italy pitcher Jordan Romano had an easy 1-2-3 ninth inning with two strikeouts for the Texas Rangers against the Milwaukee Brewers at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona on February 24, 2019. The Brewers ended up crushing the Rangers 10-1. Team Italy lefty reliever Tommy Layne made his second MLB Spring Training appearance for the St. Louis Cardinals against the Washington Nationals at the FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in Florida on February 26, 2019. The MLB veteran pitched a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts. St. Louis went on to beat Washington by a score of 6 to 1.
Team Italy's Drew Maggi was a late-inning replacement for Minnesota Twins second baseman Nick Gordon against the Boston Red Sox in the bottom of the sixth inning at JetBlue Park in Fort Meyers, Florida on February 24, 2019. He was hitless in two at-bats, and Boston defeated Minnesota 8-5. Team Italy infielder Daniel Descalso started at second base and hit second in the lineup for Chicago Cubs skipper Joe Maddon against the San Diego Padres at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona on February 25, 2019. He was hitless in two at-bats. The Cubs beat the Padres 6-4. Daniel Descalso returned the following day for another start at second base against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Batting sixth in the powerful Chicago lineup following Albert Almora Jr., Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez, and Kyle Schwarber, Daniel Descalso drove in a run on his fielder's choice in his first at-bat to give the Cubs a 3-0 advantage. Arizona came from behind to defeat Chicago 5-4.
Team Italy infielder John Andreoli replaced San Francisco Giants right fielder Henry Ramos as a pinch-runner in the bottom of the fourth inning and remained in the game against the Chicago Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona on February 24, 2019. In his two at-bats, he walked twice. The Chicago Cubs won the contest 9-5. John Andreoli came back for a brief appearance on the following day as a late-inning replacement for San Francisco Giants left fielder Mac Williamson against the Chicago White Sox. In his only at-bat facing White Sox reliever Jose Ruiz in the bottom of the eighth inning, he led off with a line-drive single to center field. The Giants and White Sox tied 4-4.
Team Italy infielder Gavin Cecchini got the start at third base for the New York Mets and hit ninth in the lineup against the Houston Astros at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida on February 24, 2019. He walked in his first at-bat against Cuban starting pitcher Rogelio Armenteros. Houston won the game 10-1. Gavin Cecchini made the most of his start at third base in a split-squad game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium in Kissimmee, Florida on February 26, 2019. Batting seventh in the Mets lineup, he walked in the top of the second inning. Gavin Cecchini later doubled off Braves reliever Patrick Weigel and scored to give the Mets a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Atlanta won the game 4-2. Team Italy outfielder Brandon Nimmo made his first 2019 MLB Spring Training appearance as the leadoff hitter and DH for the New York Mets in the other split-squad game against the Detroit Tigers at First Data Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida on February 26, 2019. He singled off Detroit relief pitcher Spencer Turnbull. The Mets lost to the Tigers 13-4. Forza #Italia! #LetsMakeItHappen
by Roberto Angotti
