Team Italy and undefeated Japan opened day five of Haarlem Baseball Week in a contest which would prove to be one of the most competitive of the international tournament.
The Team Italy lineup card looked like this: Ricardo Paolini, 2B; Tommaso Battioni, LF, Lorenzo Morresi, C; Jesus Carrera, DH; Filippo Agretti, RF; Samuele Gamberini, 1B; Federico Celli, CF; Marco Servidei, 3B; Gabriele Angioi, SS and Mattia Aldeghieri, P.
The Italians had an uphill battle ahead of them against a strong Japan pitching staff. Prior to game time, relievers Yuya Fujii had two wins (5.1 IP, 1.69 ERA) and Kentaro Shinogi had one victory (6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA).
35-year-old veteran starting pitcher Hayato Takagi made his NPB debut for the Yomiuri Giants in 2015 before playing with the Saitama Seibu Lions (2017) and the Kanagawa Future Dreams (2021, 2023-2024). He also pitched a short time in the Mexican Leagues in between stints in Kanagawa.
Team Italy starting pitcher Mattia Aldeghieri would be facing one of the best offensive teams in the tourney. Prior to the first pitch, catcher Taiga Kojima led all hitters with a .636 batting average (7-for-11 with two doubles, one home run and seven RBI). Not far behind was infielder Kenjo Yanagidate with a .455 batting average (5-for-11 with two doubles, one home run and two RBI).
Japan scored one run in the top of the first inning when starter Mattia Aldeghieri hit leadoff hitter Ayuto Matsushita and later surrendered an RBI double to Seiya Watanabe. A bloop single between the pitcher and first baseman put Kengo Yanagidate on first base. With runners on the corners, Tsubasa Yoshino walked to load the bases. Mattia Aldeghieri dug deep and got a Masahiro Tateishi strikeout to limit the damage.
The Team Italy defense got Mattia Aldeghieri out of potential trouble in the top of the second inning. After a leadoff single by Tachi Inde, Naru Katsuda reached first on a fielder’s choice. Then Ayuto Matsushita hit into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Mattia Aldeghieri showed strength when he returned to throw a quick 1-2-3 out third inning. Opposing pitcher Hayato Takagi kept the Azzurri offense quiet minus a single by Gabriele Angioi for the first three innings with four strikeouts.
Japan went to the bullpen in the bottom of the fourth inning and summoned lefty Issei Watanabe. He hit Tommaso Battioni before surrendering an RBI double to Lorenzo Morresi to tie the game 1-1. Jesus Carrera did his job in advancing the runner to third base with his groundout to first. Then Issei Watanabe balked to allow Lorenzo Morresi to score from third base and give Team Italy a 2-1 advantage.
Japan answered and regained the 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning. After a single by Ayuto Matsushita, Misho Nishikawa connected with an RBI single and stole second base to get into scoring position. Pitching coach Rolando Cretis made a visit to the mound in an effort to calm down Mattia Aldeghieri. However, the runner advanced to third base on an ensuing groundout and crossed the plate on a wild pitch.
Mattia Aldeghieri (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 2K) was replaced by reliever Marco Artitzu in the top of the sixth inning. After a groundout and a flyout, Masahiro Tateishi received a gift double courtesy of the Haarlem winds which kept the ball away from shortstop Gabriele Angioi. Lady Luck was on Team Italy’s side as center fielder Federico Celli made a sensational overhead catch for the third out to keep Japan off the board.
Marco Artitzu helped himself to a scoreless top of the seventh inning after hitting Ayuto Matsushita and then assisting in a textbook 1-4-3 double play. Japan right-handed reliever Azuma Sotomaru also threw a scoreless bottom of the seventh inning.
Control issues haunted Marco Artitzu in the top of the eighth inning when the Samurai scored five runs. After walking the dangerous Taiga Kojima, Marco Artitzu gave up a single to Kengo Yanagidate and hit Tsubasa Yoshino to load the bases for Japan. Third baseman Marco Servidei fielded a ground ball cleanly and got the force out at home plate for the first out, but Riku Kamizato was hit by a pitch to give the Japanese a 4-2 lead. After a walk was issued to Naru Katsuda, another run was added and Italian reliever Francesco Pomponi entered the contest. Ayuto Matsushita followed with a three-run triple to put Japan in front 8-2.
Despite singles from Federico Celli and Ricardo Paolini in the bottom of the eighth inning, Team Italy was unable to capitalize. Francesco Pomponi returned to pitch a scoreless top of the ninth inning. Taiga Kojima tripled but never crossed the plate.
Filippo Agretti singled off reliever Hiromasa Takasu in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Italians came up empty in the 8-2 loss to Japan.
JAPAN-ITALY BOX SCORE
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The Italians return for a clash against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, July 17th at 11:30 am.
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Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
(Photo of Team Italy's Tommaso Battioni rounding the bases to score against Japan on July 16, 2024 by RL-Mate)
