The Under 21 Italian National team couldn't get past the South Korea on Saturday at the Under 21 World Cup of Baseball in Taiwan, as they dropped their first game of the tournament by the final of 12 to 6. Suffering the loss for Italy was Yomel Rivera, lasting just 3 innings on the bump, while giving up 5 runs (3 earned) off of 7 hits and 2 walks. Picking up the win for the South Koreans was Kyeongchan Moon with his 5.1 innings of work (7 hits, 2 runs, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts). On a bright note in this 6 run loss, the stick of Mineo stayed hot, as he went 3 for 5 with 2 singles and yet another double (3 in 2 games).
Italy fell behind early in this one after giving up 3 in the 2nd and 2 in the 3rd. In the top of the 4th the Italians were able to get on the board with a single run that came on an RBI single off the bat of Poma, which plated Celli from second. After allowing another run to Korea in the bottom of the 5th, Italy was able to make the game interesting by scoring an impressive 4 runs in the top of the 6th to pull to within a single run (6-5). However in the bottom of the 6th Korea turned up the heat once again on the Italian mound, scoring 6 runs between the 7th and 8th off of Andreozzi, Taschini, and Fabiani.
Up next for Italy will be Mexico on Sunday. Mexico has yet to win a contest, currently sitting at an 0 and 2 mark, while Italy dropped to 1 and 1 after Saturday’s game.
