Team Italy defeats Greece 13-3 in European Baseball Championship opener

Team Italy defeats Greece 13-3 in European Baseball Championship opener
12/09/2021
Team Italy starting pitcher Claudio Scotti threw five hitless innings with nine strikeouts and one walk to shut down Greece in the European Baseball Championship in Settimo Torinese on Sunday afternoon, September 12, 2021. The Azzurri offense combined for 10 hits to win 13-3 via mercy rule in seven innings.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitching prospect Claudio Scotti showed Team Italy fans at Stadio Valter Aluffi in Settimo Torinese on Sunday, September 12, 2021 that he still has major league potential when controlling the game against Greece early after getting nine consecutive batters out before issuing a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth inning. He was nearly perfect on this hot Sunday afternoon in Piemonte and deserved the win. Reliever Murilo Brolo entered the contest in the top of the sixth inning and surrendered three runs but regained his command in the top of the seventh inning when striking out three hitters to end the game via mercy rule by a score of 13-3.

Azzurri leadoff hitter Noel Gonzalez walked three times and scored every time he reached base. Two-hole hitter Leo Ferrini went 3-for-5 with one double, one RBI and two runs scored. Dario Pizzano scored three times with a single and two walks. Cleanup hitter Vito Friscia was a perfect 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBI and two runs scored. DH Alberto Mineo was the run-producing machine with five RBI on one single and one double. Outfielder Federico Cello contributed with an RBI single, two walks and one run scored, while shortstop Erick Epifano also walked twice, singled and scored twice to nail the coffin shut on Greece.

ITALY-GREECE BOX SCORE

With the victory over Greece, Team Italy concludes Group A round-robin play with a battle against Belgium on Monday night at 8:30 pm (local time) in Torino and a clash with Austria on Tuesday night at 8:30 pm (local time) in Avigliana. Belgium lost to Austria 11-10 in Avigliana on Sunday afternoon. All European Baseball Championship games will be streaming live at www.BaseballSoftball.tv Forza #Italia! #PerBill

by Roberto Angotti

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