With a seventh inning grand slam, Daniel Mayora broke open a 2-2 tie, and forced the Italian Baseball Series back to Bologna with Rimini now trailing 3-2.
Switching the music, Rimini took a first inning lead when Retrosi doubled and Florsed singled him in. Bologna would tie the game in the fourth, with Marval douling and later scoring on a base loaded walk, and then take a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Grimaudo singled in Vaglio.
At that point, with Rimini trailing heading to the bottom of the sixth, Mayora would take over. His sixth inning homer tied the game leading off the inning, and a Ramos single later drove Panerati from the game. Bologna's bullpen was not up to the starter's pace, once again let down by the defense. A one out error by shortstop Cedeno was followed by a walk, a double steal, and an intentional walk to load the based for a the Rimini cleanup hitter who had homered just one inning earlier, clearly a questionable decision by manager Frignani, that proved fatal when Riccardo De Santis entered and had his second pitch driving to center field for the grand slam. Two passed balls and a De Simoni double in the eighth put the game out of reach, and Rimini ensured itself of not seeing its rival celebrate victory on the Rimini diamond.
The series returns to Bologna on Saturday for game 6, and if Rimini can win again game 7 would be played in Bologna Sunday.
