Team Italy falls victim to undefeated Puerto Rico 9-3 in WBC Pool D action
After nearly posting an upset over a heavily-favored Venezuela in extra-innings the day prior taking the field to face 2017 WBC Pool D favorite Puerto Rico, Italy manager Marco Mazzieri and his seasoned coaching staff of MLB veterans (Sal Butera, Frank 
Catalanotto, Sal Fasano, Nick Punto and Brian Sweeney) were as confident as ever about their team’s chances of advancing to the second round of WBC play at Petco Park in San Diego. They had every reason to believe in Team Italy as the Azzurri scored 10 runs in each of their games against Mexico and Venezuela.
In the WBC opener against host Mexico Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco on March 9th, Italy set a team record with four home run blasts from John Andreoli, Rob Segedin, Chris Colabello and Drew Butera. With the two additional homers from Alex Liddi and Brandon Nimmo against Venezuela on March 11th, Team Italy had already hit more home runs than they had in their previous 11 WBC games combined. Going into the contest against the MLB All-Star powered Puerto Rico on March 12th, Team Italy’s bats were on fire with no end in sight. Puerto Rico manager Edwin Gonzalez took notice of the Azzurri offensive punch and assured the media in interviews that despite the team being undefeated Puerto Rico would play the game to win. The Puerto Rico skipper’s plan to quash Team Italy’s heavy hitting ways would rest in his squad’s strong pitching staff.
In the game against Team Italy, Puerto Rico manager Edwin Gonzalez’ plan of using his MLB arsenal of starter Jose Berrios, reliever Hiram Burgos and closer Miguel Mejia was well-executed. But once again Team Italy came out fighting and put the 2013 WBC runner-up Puerto Rico on edge early. After Berrios walked Team Italy leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo, John Andreoli slammed a two-run homer into the centerfield bleachers to give Italy a 2-0 lead. It was reminiscent of the first pitch dinger Andreoli drilled over the wall in his first WBC at-bat, which made him one of 13 players to homer in his first WBC at-bat and one of only four players to homer on the first Classic pitch he saw. Team Italy DH Drew Butera added to the home run party when he took Berrios deep for his second 2017 WBC homer in the second inning.
Team Italy lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the second inning. Azzurri starter Luis Lugo pitched for 2.1 innings before being 
relieved by Blue Jays pitching prospect Jordan Romano. Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri called on the bullpen often as Fillippo Crepaldi, Junior Oberto, Nick Fanti and Frailyn Florian were used to combat the explosive Puerto Rico offense. Although the 9-3 loss may have been disheartening to some, it showed Team Italy’s persistence to never give up despite the odds. Team Italy’s 1-2 record does not accurately depict how the Azzurri fared in the 2017 WBC tournament to date as they were 90 feet away from beating a tough Venezuela team in the ninth inning. The loyal Mexican baseball fans have a newfound appreciation for Team Italy as Mexico has been defeated by the Azzurri in two consecutive WBC competitions. Regardless of what team advances with Puerto Rico to the second round of the WBC tournament at Petco Park in San Diego, Italy manager Marco Mazzieri is proud of his team’s accomplishments. “Well, for some reason, any time Italy wins, it’s a big surprise,” said Mazzieri. “It’s been like that for eight years now. The only ones that are not surprised, it’s these guys, because they are playing to win. They’re playing to win every pitch. And sometimes we’re able to make it, sometimes we don’t make it. But they play to win, and they showed it.”
by Roberto Angotti
