DOU-LIOU STADIUM. Colombia found the way to get its first win at the XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup on Tuesday with a 4-run seventh rally to defeat Italy 6-4 and reach the Europeans at 1-3 record in Group B.
Italian Silvestri won the lefthanded starters’ duel against Colombian Lopez, as the Azzurri lineup produced two runs in the third inning taking advantage of an error by third baseman Viloria and a single by Celli.
The Americans tied the game with a run in the fourth, RBI by Medina with a single, and a run in the fifth, for a throwing error by shortstop Gasparini.
Gasparini hit the RBI single that gave Team Italy a new lead 3-2 in the sixth, but the Colombians scored four times in the bottom of the inning, out of a loaded bases triple by Hernandez against first reliever Spada, and a bunt-single by Viloria on Briggi, who had just entered the game.
Colombia’s bullpen did a better job, allowing only one more run to the Italians in the ninth.
Colombia will play tomorrow its last game of the First Round against Team USA, while Italy will face Korea; both teams still have some chance to make the Second Round, but it all depends on the results of Wednesday’s games.
