Team Italy showcased for the first time in front of a loyal Taiwanese fan base at Douliu Stadium on a warm Sunday afternoon against the Wei Chuan Dragons. As the Team Italy buses arrived, Mike Piazza and Matt Harvey signs were held by hungry autograph seekers hoping for a glimpse of their favorite MLB stars.
Team Italy manager and National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza’s lineup card looked like this: Sal Frelick, LF; David Fletcher, 3B; Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B; Dominic Fletcher, RF; Brett Sullivan, C; Robel Garcia, DH; Nicky Lopez, SS; Miles Mastrobuoni, 2B; Ben DeLuzio, CF; and Sam Gaviglio, SP.
After a scoreless first inning, Team Italy took a 1-0 lead after a solo home run over the center field wall by catcher Brett Sullivan. Earlier in the first inning, he showed his defensive prowess when throwing out a runner attempting to steal second base. Starting pitcher Sam Gaviglio, who gave up one hit and one walk during his two innings of work, was backed by a solid defense as demonstrated by Miles Mastrobuoni's range at second base when robbing the Taiwanese of a single in the gap between first and second to end the inning.
Nicky Lopez led off the top of the third inning with a walk and got a great jump to easily steal second base. Ben DeLuzio followed with a walk. Sal Frelick singled to load the bases for David Fletcher, who hit a sacrifice fly to center field which allowed Nicky Lopez to score. Another sacrifice fly to deep center field by Vinnie Pasquantino yielded the second run of the inning for the Italians.
With a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning, relief pitcher Stephen Woods Jr. entered the contest for Team Italy. He surrendered one run on two hits in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 3-1 game. Shortstop Nicky Lopez demonstrated his defensive excellence when fielding a would-be single in the gap and getting the force out at second base to end the inning and limit the damage.
The Italians nearly added another run in the top of the fourth inning. With two out, Miles Mastrobuoni walked and stole second base; however, a fly out to right by Ben DeLuzio ended the scoring threat. Relievers Mitchell Stumpo and Joey Marciano pitched scoreless fourth and fifth innings respectively to keep the Wei Chuan Dragons off the board.
Braxton Lorenzini came in to pitch for Team Italy and struck out the first two hitters he faced in the bottom of the sixth inning. A ground out to first baseman Vito Friscia ended the inning.
Italian-born and developed Nicolo Pinazzi, a Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect from Milan, was asked to close the game. He issued a leadoff walk and then fought back with a strikeout. After giving up a single, the promising left-handed pitcher was relieved by Venezuelan-born Michele Vassalotti. With runners on first and second base and one out, the hard-throwing Milwaukee Brewers prospect gave up an RBI bloop single over the head of first baseman Vito Friscia to cut the Italian lead to one run..An intentional walk loaded the bases and set a potential double play for Team Italy. A sacrifice fly to deep center field tied the game 3-3. Michele Vassalotti fielded a sharply hit ground ball to record the third out and end the seven-inning exhibition game.
Team Italy returns to Douliu Stadium on Monday, March 6, 2023 for an 11 am (local time) exhibition game against the Uni Lions. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
2023 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC NEWS
(Photo of Miles Mastrobuoni by IABF)
