Team Italy shows poise in stunning 8-7 upset over Chicago Cubs in WBC Exhibition Game

With underdog Team Italy leading the 2016 World Champion Cubs 6-1 in the middle of the sixth inning, the loyal Cubbie fans at Mesa, Arizona’s Sloan Park were in a state of shock. Azzurri manager Marco Mazzieri had executed his game plan of limiting an MLB All-Star caliber lineup featuring Kyle Schwarber, Tommy La Stella, Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward to just one unearned run, which was scored on a wild pitch strikeout by Tiago Da Silva. The tone of the game was somber for the Cubbie faithful beginning with the first pitch when Team Italy starter Luis Lugo remained in control during his two innings of work and allowed just one hit.

The Team Italy offense came alive in the third inning when Pedro Strop replaced Cubs starting pitcher John Lackey. John Andreoli exercised patience at the plate and worked the count for a walk. Brandon Nimmo followed with a single deep enough for the speedy Andreoli to advance from first to third. With men on the corners, Daniel Descalso doubled to left to bring home Andreoli for the Azzurri's first run. Team Italy eventually took a 3-0 lead when Nimmo and Descalso scored on a Cervelli single to right. Pitcher Tiago Da Silva entered the bottom half of the third and nearly escaped unscathed when striking out 2016 World Series MVP Anthony Rizzo; however, the nasty third strike wild pitch in the dirt enabled the man on third to score Chicago’s first run.

Cubs reliever Hector Rondon, who is part of the Team Venezuela designated pitcher pool, entered the game in the fourth inning to the delight of the Team Italy. With back-to-back singles from Gavin Cecchini and John Andreoli, Brandon Nimmo singled on a double steal, which allowed Cecchini to score and Andreoli to reach third. An unlikely error by Cubs second baseman Ben Zobrist allowed Descalso to reach first and Andreoli to score for a comfortable Team Italy 5-1 lead over the Cubs.

Ambidextrous pitcher Pat Venditte took over for Da Silva in the bottom half of the fourth. Venditte dominated two of the Cubs biggest sluggers when striking out Jason Heyward and Kyle Schwarber. The momentum carried into the top of the fifth for Team Italy. After a walk by Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. to Alex Liddi, manager Marco Mazzieri put on the hit and run with Gavin Cecchini at the plate. The 2012 Mets #1 draft pick delivered with a double which brought Liddi home for Team Italy’s sixth run. A.J. Morris came in to preserve the Azzurri’s 6-1 advantage in the bottom of the fifth. Morris, who made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Cincinnati Reds, demonstrated why he cracked the Big Leagues by holding the Cubs scoreless.

The Cubs came roaring back when Team Italy lefty Frailyn Florian entered the game in the sixth inning and surrendered a two-run homer to Taylor Davis to narrow the Azzurri 6-3 lead. The hard-throwing Trey Nielsen was summoned in relief to stop the bleeding, but the blood-thirsty Cubbies fought back. With men on first and third, Chicago’s Jeimer Candelario singled to make the score 6-4. Then Chris Dominguez slammed a three-run homer to give the Cubs a 7-6 lead.

The Sloan Park Cubs fans were back in the game, and it appeared Team Italy had let this one slip away. Azzurri closer Mike DeMark entered the eighth inning and kept Chicago off the bases. In what was the beginning of a miraculous ninth inning Team Italy comeback against Cubs reliever Jake Buchanan, Chris Colabello reached on an infield single. Rob Segedin, who was instrumental in the LA Dodgers’ 2016 playoff push, came through in the clutch with a two-run home run to deep center to put Team Italy ahead 8-7 and ultimately win the game.

by Roberto Angotti