Miami. According to manager Marco Mazzieri, Team Italy couldn’t have done more on Tuesday: “The boys played very well and they left everything on the field. That’s what I requested”.
Team Italy came a couple of innings short from another big surprise as they lost 4-5 against the Dominican Republic in front of a crowd of 14,482 in Miami. The Azzurri actually were ahead for most of the game. They scored four runs in their first at bat when designated hitter Chris Colabello jumped on a 95 mile per hour fastball by Dominican starter Edinson Volquez and drove it into center field bleachers.
“I take my hat off to the Italian team” commented Dominican manager Tony Pena “This was the toughest game we have played so far in the tournament”.
The Dominican Republic stayed in the game thanks to a couple of solo shots (by shortstop Jose Reyes in the third and second baseman Robinson Cano in the 6th) that were basically the only chances Italy’s starter Tiago Da Silva gave to them.
Italy actually failed to extend the lead when they didn’t capitalize a runners at the corners situation in the fifth. Volquez, who had been in control since the first, left and lefty Cedeno struck out Italy’s first baseman Rizzo, while righty Barcelo got third baseman Liddi on a grounder to shortstop.
The Dominican Republic went ahead in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, reliever Pat Venditte gave up back to back singles to Jose Reyes and designated hitter Erick Aybar. Cano hit a shallow fly ball to left, where neither left fielder Costanzo nor shortstop Tony Granato could get. Luca Panerati relieved Venditte and walked in the third run. Sweeney relieved Panerati and allowed the tying run as he got shortstop Hanley Ramirez on a fly ball to center. A base hit by Nelson Cruz made it a 5-4 game.
Tony Pena’s bullpen (Pedro Strop, Santiago Casilla and Fernando Rodney) gave Italy no chances to come back.
“At the end of the day” said Chris Colabello “my goal is to try to help my team win That being said, I’m just trying to put good swings on baseballs”.
“There was no tomorrow here” said Robinson Cano, when asked to comment the excitment he showed after scoring the go ahead run “You’ve got to play every day and you’ve got to win”.
