Rimini, just one game away from the title

The Rimini Pirates will get their first crack at the Italian Baseball League’s top prize on Friday evening in Bologna against UnipolSai. One win is all that is needed on Rimini’s side for the title in this best of seven Italian Baseball Series, and with game six just right around the corner you can bet that Rimini has a keen eye on closing the series as soon as possible, especially after having had come up short in both 2012 and 2013.

After the first five games of the Italian Baseball Series it’s safe to say that that all forecasts heading into this best of seven finals can be thrown out the window. With the Rimini now in control of the series, the Pirates have the opportunity to bring home their first title since 2006. The series thus far has picked up right where it left off in the semifinals round, where Rimini successfully took four of the six meetings over Bologna, proving to be the only thorn in the side of UnipolSai Bologna after all odds had then walking away with the championship in 2014.

What has the difference been thus far after the first five games of the Italian Baseball Series? Well, it’s easy to look back on two of the three games lost by Bologna with the foreigners on the bump. Game one was taken not off of the dominant Williamson, but off of a normally dominant Rivero (blown save) whose past has done nothing but baffle opposing hitters in the IBL. Game one saw Rivero blow a four run lead in the 9th, as this righty wasn’t able to retire that third man in the inning. Bologna eventually went on to lose the game in the 11^th on a walk off homer off the bat of Zileri, who had also tied the game up at 5-all in the 9^th with a two RBI single un the middle. Game one also saw the loss of Bologna’s centerfielder, Ambrosino, who went hard into the wall chasing Zileri’s ball that flew over the centerfield fence. Ambrosino is most likely out for the rest of the series with a sprained ankle.

In game two UnipolSai Bologna tied up the Italian Baseball Series at one-all after they were able to walk away with the 7 to 3 victory on the backs of De Santis and Crepaldi. The difference in the game was Bologna being able to hold onto the lead, exactly what had eluded them in game one’s extra inning loss. Bologna got out to 4 run lead after just an inning, just as they had in game one, however this time both De Santis and Crepaldi were able to bring home the win, and the 1-1 series tie. At the plate for Bologna, Liverziani went 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI, Sabbatani went 2 for 3 with 1 run and 3 RBI’s, and Vaglio picked up 2 RBI’s and a hit.

In game three it was “déjà vu” for Rivero and UnipolSai Bologna when Riccardo Bertagnon (Rimini) them off with a 2 RBI single in the bottom of a 2 run 9^th. For the second time in the series Joey Williamson was dominant on the bump deep into the game, going 6 innings of 3 hit, 1 run ball, before handing the ball off to Rivero who’s struggles continued in his second strait appearance (L - 2.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 3 SO). The game was lost by Bologna in the bottom of the 9^th after Crepaldi had come on in relief of Rivero who had loaded the bases with two outs. On a 1-0 count Bertagnon then preceded with the game-ending walk off 2 RBI single to right, scoring both Gomez and Di Fabio for the win and the 2-1 series lead.

In game four Bologna was able to once again tie this best of seven finals up with a huge 12-7 victory. Rimini actually got out to a 4 run lead in this one, only to see it all disappear with a huge 6 run 6^th off of Marquez, Escalona, Torres and Ekstrom. Game 4’s final tally came up as 10-7 in favor of Bologna, with the win going to Raul Rivero who went 5 innings of scoreless ball out of the pen.

In game five Bologna was once again taken by surprise after Roberto Coradini and the Rimini Pirates were able to take the 3-2 series lead with the 4-0 victory. Corradini absolutely stole the show in the game, tossing up a complete game shutout over UnipolSai Bologna. Corradini’s numbers totaled up 9 innings, allowing 0 runs, 6 hits, 0 walks, and striking out 5. All four of Rimini’s runs came in the bottom of the 5th, of which was topped off by a huge 3 run line drive homer off the bat of Alexander Romero.

With the series now sitting in favor of Rimini, Bologna will have their work cut out for them this weekend if they are to turn things around, and they will have to do it without the likes of their centerfielder, Ambrosino, and right-handed pitchers Marinez (out for the rest of the series with a suspension) and Manauris Baez (muscle issues). With that said the likes of Vaglio, Liverziani, Rodriguez and Oeltjen will have to do most of the heavy lifting on the offensive side of the ball, while Williamson and Rivero will need to be the first door stop in Rimini’s hopes at the title on Friday evening in Bologna. Game six is schedule to get underway at 8:30 pm, as is the if necessary game seven (in Bologna).