Team Italy places 6th at Haarlem Baseball Week after loss to Spain
After a 5-3 loss to Chinese Taipei the day prior, the Italians played against Spain in their final Haarlem Baseball Week game for 5th/6th place at Pim Mulier Stadion on Thursday, July 18, 2024. Team Italy beat Spain 10-3 earlier in the international tourney on Monday, July 15th
Before the first pitch, the Azzurri offensive leaders were as follows: Giulio Monello (.444 BA, 4-for-9, R, RBI, 2 BB), Nathanael Batista (.357 BA, 5-for-14, 2B, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB), Samuele Gamberini (.333 BA, 6-for-18, 2B, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI), Filippo Agretti (.263 BA, 5-for-19, 2B, R, 3 RBI, BB), Jesus Carrera (.250 BA, 5-for-20, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, SB), Lorenzo Morresi (.250 BA, 4-for-16, 2B, 7 R, RBI, 3 BB) and Ricardo Paolini (,200 BA, 4-for-20, R, RBI, 2 BB).
In the rematch against Spain on a sunny Thursday in Haarlem, the Team Italy lineup card looked like this: Ricardo Paolini, 2B; Tommaso Battioni, CF; Jesus Carrera, LF; Samuele Gamberini, 1B; Filippo Agretti, RF; Federico Celli, DH; Giulio Monello, C; Gabriele Angioi, SS; Marco Servidei, 3B and Federico Virgadaula, P.
In the top of the first inning, Italian starter Federico Virgadaula gave up singles to Leopoldo Correa and Jesus Ustariz and a walk to Lesther Galvan to load the bases. Team Italy left fielder Jesus Carrera robbed Daniel Jimenez of extra bases with a great catch to end the scoring threat.
The Italians faced one of Spain's strongest pitchers, Pablo Guillen (0-1, 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 5 K). He lost the decision against Chinese Taipei in his only start on July 13th.
The Team Italy offense also missed a big scoring opportunity in the bottom of the first inning. After back-to-back singles from Ricardo Paolini and Tommaso Battioni, Filippo Agretti was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Federico Celli. Pitcher Pablo Guillen dug deep and got a quick strikeout to keep the game scoreless.
Federico Virgadaula kept the Spain offense quiet with two strikeouts in the top of the second inning.
Young and talented shortstop Gabriele Angioi picked up his second base hit of the tournament in the bottom of the second inning and advanced to second base on a balk by pitcher Pablo Guillen, However, the Italians came up empty.
The contest remained scoreless in the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning, Federico Virgadaula (3 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K) was replaced by reliever Francesco Pomponi. He was helped out by left fielder Jesus Carrera, who made a diving catch to once again deny Daniel Jimenez of extra bases.
Spain also went to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth inning and summoned Orlando Rodriguez, who had a an easy 1-2-3 out inning with two strikeouts.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Spain offense came to life with five runs. After singles by Wander Encarnacion and Juan Gonzales, Rolbert Decena connected with an RBI double down the third base line. Pitching coach Rolando Cretis paid a mound visit to Francesco Pompani in an effort to calm down the promising pitcher.
After an Engel Beltre groundout to the pitcher, Leopoldo Correa was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a potential double play. Francesco Pomponi reared back and struck out Edison Valero before Jesus Ustariz clubbed a grand slam over the left field fence to put Spain on top 4-0.
After surrendering a single to Lesther Galvan, Francesco Pomponi (1.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, BB, K) was replaced by reliever Francesco Bonvini. He gave up a single up the middle to Daniel Jimenez and a walk to Wander Encarncion to load the bases for Juan Gonzales. He hit a three-run triple down the left field line to increase Spain's commanding 8-0 lead. Rolbert Decena was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed another run to cross the plate before the third out was called.
Down 9-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Azzurri needed runs in a hurry and got two runs on the board. Gabriele Angioi walked, advanced to second base on a wild pitch, moved to third base on a Marco Servidei flyout and scored on a sacrifice fly from Ricardo Paolini.
After a walk to Tommaso Battioni and a single by Jesus Carrera, reliever Orlando Rodriguez gave up an RBI single to Samuele Gamberini and an infield single by Filippo Agretti before striking out Federico Cello to end the inning.
Trailing 9-2 in the top of the sixth inning, Team Italy replaced Francesco Bonvini (0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB) with reliever Simone Carnevale. He walked Edison Valero before Jesus Ustariza hit into 4-6-3 double play and a Lester Galvan flyout to center field by kept Spain off the board.
Spain brought out lefty Marc Civit to pitch a scoreless bottom of the sixth inning. The Spaniards added one run in the top of the seventh inning. After Daniel Jimenez doubled down the left field line and Wander Encarnacion reached first base on a throwing error by shortstop Gabriele Angioi, Simone Carnevale struck out Juan Gonzales before throwing a wild pitch for the Spain's only run of the inning. Then a flyout to center field by Rolbert Decena and a Engel Beltre groundout limited the damage.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ricardo Paolini led off with a walk and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch but was left stranded on base.
Spain tacked on two more runs when lefty Luca Di Raffaele entered the contest in top of the eighth inning in place of reliever Simone Carnevale (2 IP, H, R, BB, K). After an exceptional defensive play by third baseman Marco Servidei for the first out, Edison Valerio singled up the middle and the dangerous Jesus Ustariz was offered a free pass to first base. The runners advanced into scoring position after Luca Di Raffaele balked. The crafty left-handed pitcher struck out pinch hitter Marc Rodriguez before surrendering a two-run single to Wander Encarnacion to give Spain the 12-3 advantage. The reliever fought back with a Juan Gonzales strikeout to stop the bleeding.
Despite a leadoff single to right field by Filippo Agretti, a walk to Giulio Monello and a single to right field by Marco Servidei in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Italians were unable to make any forward motion in catching with Spain. Reliever Royd Hernandez came out of the bullpen to get a Ricardo Paolini strikeout to end the inning.
Luca Di Raffaele returned to pitch the top of the ninth inning. Rolbert Decena doubled to right field and advanced to third base on an Engel Beltre groundout. An RBI groundout by Leopoldo Correa added another run for Spain.
The Italians had a 10-run deficit to overcome in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tommaso Battioni led off with a double down the right field line and Jesus Carrera followed with an RBI single. Samuele Gamberini reached first base on a fielder's choice and advanced to third base on a single by Filippo Agretti. But it was too little and too late for Team Italy as Spain prevailed in the 13-4 victory to place 5th at Haarlem Baseball Week.
VIDEO REPLAY
With the 13-4 loss to Spain, Team Italy places 6th at Haarlem Baseball Week.
Undefeated Japan (5-0) faces Chinese Taipei (2-3) in the first Haarlem Baseball Week semifinal game later today, while the host Kingdom of the Netherlands (4-1) battles USA (3-2) in the nightcap.
The Haarlem Baseball Week Championship final takes place on Friday, July 19th at 7:30 pm, while the battle for the bronze starts earlier in the day at 2 pm.
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Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
Read also: Team Italy player development director Gianguido Poma answers 5 questions
(Photo of Team Italy starting pitcher Federico Virgadaula against Spain on July 18, 2024 by RL-Mate)
