Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
March 07, 2006
Strong First

Jason Grilli strikes out two in his first inning of work against Australia, retiring the side in order. Meanwhile, Panama and Puerto Rico are scoreless after three.

Update: Panama takes a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a bases loaded walk to Carlos Ruiz.

Update: Grilli continues strong. Six Australians up, six down, four strikeouts. Still no score in this game.

Update: Italy takes a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second after a poor fielding play by the Australians sets up a scoring opportunity. Dustin Delucchi gets the RBI on a ground out.

Update: Menechino brings in two with the help of another poor fielding play by Australia. It's now 3-0 Italy.

Update: Alex Rios hits a home run for Puerto Rico to tie Panama at one in the bottom of the fifth.

Update: Grilli remains perfect through three innings in the Australia-Italy game. He's struck out five. Mike Piazza leads off the bottom of the third with a double.

Update: After an out, Pascucci hits the top of the wall and triples in Piazza. It's 4-0 Italy in the third.

Update: Bernie Williams drives in a second run for Puerto Rico in the fifth. They take the lead 2-1 over Panama.

Update: Second baseman Trent Durrington doubles for Australia to break up the no-hitter in the fourth.

Update: The double leads to nothing. Grilli is averaging 12 pitches through four innings.

Update: Jason Grilli leaves after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed just one hit while striking out seven. He threw 57 pitches, 37 for strikes. The Australian hitters were totally overmatched. Italy leads 5-0 in the top of the fifth.

Update: Mark Saccomanno homers for Italy in the bottom of the fifth to make the score Italy 7, Australia 0. We have a shot at a mercy rule game here. Canada and South Africa are scoreless in the second.

Update: Puerto Rico loads the bases in the bottom of the 8th but fails to score. They take a 2-1 lead to the top of the 9th.

Update: With one out in the 9th, Carlos Ruiz walks for Panama.

Update: Pinch runner Rivera is thrown out stealing by Y. Molina for the second out.

Update: Cabrera gets the final out of the game on a strikeout of Manuel Rodriguez. Puerto Rico puts Panama on the bubble to continue in the tournament.

Update: Vince Sinisi hits a two run homer for Italy to make the score 9-0 in the sixth. One more run and one more inning and Italy can call it a night. Italy has 10 hits, 7 for extra bases.

Update: After two walks, Australia turns a double play. Italy will need to bat in the bottom of the seventh.

Update: With two out and men on first and second in the bottom of the seventh, Italy's Tom Gregorio, in relief of Mike Piazza, brings home the final run with a double. Italy wins 10-0.

This sets up a very important game tomorrow at 7 PM. Italy plays Venezuela with a chance to move on to the next round. While I don't think Italy is as good as the South Americans, they showed tonight they can hit for power. If they can keep the game close, who knows what happens? Right now, the Italians have a shot to move on to the next round and possibly knock out a favorite.

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Posted by David Pinto at 08:16 PM | World Cup | TrackBack (0)
Comments

So, how much of the Italian team lives in the U.S.?

Posted by: Adam Villani at March 7, 2006 10:04 PM

Is Grilli their number 1 starter? For real?

Posted by: Chris at March 7, 2006 10:55 PM
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