Team Italy loses second WBC game after 2-0 shutout to Panama

Team Italy loses second WBC game after 2-0 shutout to Panama
11/03/2023
After suffering a 11-7 loss to host Chinese Taipei at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium the night prior, Team Italy returned for a day game against Panama on Saturday afternoon, March 11, 2023 and lost its second World Baseball Classic Pool A game by a score of 2-0.

Team Italy manager Mike Piazza started pitcher Michele Vassalotti, who gave up a single to Panama leadoff hitter Ruben Tejada but nothing else in the top of the first inning. The Italians came up empty in the bottom of the first inning when a single from Sal Frelick was quickly erased after Vinnie Pasquantino hit into a double play. Dominic Fletcher worked the count for a walk off Panama starting pitcher Harold Araus, but a fly out by designated hitter Brett Sullivan ended the inning.  

Panama was first to score in the top of the second inning after Jose Ramos blasted a solo home run over the left field wall. Team Italy threatened to tie the game up in the bottom of the second inning. Azzurri spark plug Nicky Lopez singled up the middle and advanced into scoring position but was left stranded on second base. 

Right-hander Michele Vassalotti returned to pitch a hitless top of the third inning. The Italian infield proved to be worth its weight in gold in the top of the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk to Jonathan Arzuz, Team Italy shortstop Nicky Lopez robbed Christian Bethancourt of a base hit and turned a web gem worthy 6-4-3 double play. Pitcher Michele Vassalotti did the rest by himself when striking out Jose Ramos to end the inning. 

Sam Gaviglio replaced Michele Vassalotti on the mound in the top of the fifth inning. After giving up a single to Erasmo Caballero, the Team Italy infield once again came to the rescue with a Dominic Fletcher assisted 4-6-3 double play. 

Team Italy came up short in the bottom of the fifth inning when Panana reliever Humberto Mejia was summoned from the bullpen. The hot-hitting Nicky Lopez hit a leadoff ground rule double. Then Miles Mastrobuoni was issued a four-pitch walk. Catcher Dominic Miroglio put down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position, but the Italians were unable to cash in. 

Reliever Sam Gaviglio returned to pitch a scoreless top of the sixth due in part to a spectacular inning-ending over-the-shoulder basket catch by right fielder Dominic Fletcher. The right-handed pitcher was not so lucky in the top of the seventh inning when a leadoff single to Jose Ramos eventually produced one run after an RBI single by Allen Cordoba. An excellent inning-ending 5-3 groundout by third baseman Robel Garcia prevented Panama from adding another potential run. 

Down 2-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, Team Italy was unable to get any offensive production against lefty reliever Alberto Baldonado. The Italians countered with a scoreless inning of relief from Matteo Bocchi, who looked sharp striking out Ruben Tejada and Christian Bethancourt in the top of the eighth.

Panana reliever Alberto Baldonado returned to pitch his second consecutive scoreless inning in the bottom of the eighth despite giving up a double to Team Italy center fielder Sal Frelick

Azzurri reliever Glenn Albanese entered the contest in the top of the ninth inning and surrendered just a single to Edgar Munoz. Panama closer Javier Guerra came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning. Dominic Fletcher led off with a walk. Brett Sullivan followed with a single to put runners on the corners for Team Italy. The crowd began to make some noise for the Azzurri squad, but that was not enough to make a difference. John Valente struck out swinging and Nicky Lopez hit into a game-ending double play to secure the 2-0 Panama shutout over the Italians.   

PANAMA-ITALY BOX SCORE

Team Italy (1-2) plays its final game of WBC Pool A against the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2-1) on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 7 am (EST). Forza #Italia!

by Roberto Angotti

2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC STANDINGS
2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC POOL A SCHEDULE
2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC NEWS

(Photo of Team Italy pitcher Sam Gaviglio in action against Panama in the 2023 WBC by IABF)