In front of an audience of 10 thousand people who had the opportunity to follow the friendlies in Panama, Italy and Cuba (in the Taiwanese evening), Italy leads for 6 rounds against the WeiChuan Dragonsone of the franchises in the Taiwanese championship (CPBL), then is reached in the last inning played with two runs conceded and the final score is 3-3.
The first blue outing immediately expressed some of the team’s distinctive characteristics: solid defense and a patient attack. At the same time, the team, still looking for the perfect rhythm after the long journeys of the last few days, has worked off some rust.
The starting lineup combined the speed of Sal Frelick (LF), the experience of David Fletcher (2B) and the power of Vinnie Pasquantino (1B), followed by Dominic Fletcher (RF), Brett Sullivan (C), Robel Garcia (DH). The bottom end of the lineup was finished by Nicky Lopez (SS), Miles Mastrobuoni (2B) e Ben DeLuzio (CF).
After a first inning of break-in, the first hit comes from the bat of Brett Sullivan who sends the first home run of the blue expedition into orbit in the second inning, then in the following offense he builds two runs with the help of two bases on balls from the low part of the lineup, a single by Frelick and sacrifice flies by David Fletcher e Vinnie Pasquantino, but leaves the bases filled on a catch by the Dragons defense from Sullivan’s hit. The Dragons find a run in the third inning on two hits and a sacrifice fly by Chen PJ and bring more hits to the cause than Italy (6 to 2), however they fail to assemble a forcing until the seventh. In the early stages of the match, in fact, it was the diamond that stood out, with the diving hold of Miles Mastrobuoni to end the second inning and the running one of Nicky Lopez to the third who denies a hit to the opposing batter and puts out the runner on second.
In the last 4 rounds the two attacks drop with the dropper, with Italy not taking advantage of a chance in the fourth with a runner in scoring position and a situation of full bases in the seventh with cool, entered as a pinch-hitter, which does not materialize (fly to right). Instead, the Dragons succeed, scoring two points on a double to the right and a sacrifice fly ball that are worth the tie, but leave the overtaking point on base (on the excellent play of the blue relief Vassalotti who intercepts the insidious rebounder served by the opponent) and the game ends with a score of 3-3 after 7 recovery.
For Italia Baseball they took turns on the mound Sam Gaviglio (2IP, H,BB), Stephen Woods (1IP, R, 2H), Mitchell Stump (1IP, H, K), Joey Marciano (1IP, H, 3K), Braxton Lorenzini (1IP, BB, 2K), Nicholas Pinazzi (0.1IP, H, 2R, BB) e Michael Vassalotti (0.2IP, H).
In attack, the Azzurri finished with the following roster: Frelick (1-2, BB), David Fletcher (0-2, RBI), Pasquantino (0-1, RBI, then replaced by Friscia, 0-1), Dominic Fletcher (0-2, BB), Sullivan (1-2, HR, RBI, later replaced by Miroglio, 0-1), Garcia (0-3), Lopez (0-2, HBP), Mastrobuoni (3 BB, R ), DeLuzio (0-1, BB, R).
Italy will take the field again a Dou Liu in the morning (11 local time, 4 Italian time) of Monday 6 March against the Uni Lions.
