World Baseball Classic – Dream Italy: beat Holland 7-1 and fly to the quarterfinals

Italy qualifies for the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, surpassing the first phase of the tournament for the second time in five editions. The Azzurri’s arrival in Tokyo was decided by the spectacular 7-1 victory over the Netherlands, one of the scores that Cuba’s victory over China Taipei (also 7-1) had made useful for access to the draw at direct elimination. For Mike Piazza’s team, on Thursday 16th at 11:00, there will be Japan at the Tokyo Dome, the historic site of the Classic on several occasions as well as the usual landing place for occasional MLB matches. Holland and Panama qualify for the Classic 2026, China Taipei will face the qualifiers.

In the first two innings the fight on the mound between Harvey and Estanista does not produce particular thrills, in the sense that the valid concessions lead to the maximum in first base. In the upper part of the third, however, Tromp swings the bat well for a home run to right that is 0-1 in favor of the Dutch. At the moment, the oranges are first in the group and Italy has to face the qualifiers for the Classic 2026.

Everything, however, turns upside down in the fourth round with Bolsenbroek on the mountain. Soon Dominic Fletcher goes to second base, then Sullivan drives him home with a grounding single slightly to the right that clears second base and leaves the time to make it 1-1. Then come a single by Pasquantino and Bolsenbroek that hits Friscia. Result: full bases. The Dutch pitcher, under pressure, doesn’t get along with his catcher: a wild pitch comes out; it doesn’t seem true to Sullivan that he has a free way to make it 2-1. Everything else happens in rapid succession: single to the right by DeLuzio and it’s 3-1, another single by Friscia which is worth the 4-1, spectacular triple by Lopez who sends home the two mentioned for the 6-1 (against Mendez, who in the meantime replaced Bolsenbroek).

Even in the fifth inning Mastrobuoni a chance is created by hitting a single, stealing second base, and using a Tromp error to go to third, but there it stops. The real danger for the Azzurri comes in the sixth, when Pallante, who came on for Harvey, ends up giving the Dutch full bases. It sounds like an extremely critical moment, but new entry Joe LaSorsa makes it almost too easy: one, two and three out to avert the danger. Galvanized, Frelick hits a double and then drives to third base on a wild pitch by Kelly; there is the walk by Lopez, but Dominic Fletcher ends up caught in a double play and nothing is done about the runners in the corners.

The eighth round sees Italy still the protagonist: base on balls by Friscia, single by David Fletcher, then Frelick hits his hit over Kelly’s head: Friscia asks for nothing better, he’s 7-1 with runners on second and first. And of points, after Lopez’s stolen base, there could even be more, but Dominic Fletcher’s long serve is intercepted by a great technical gesture by Profar. The last inning is entrusted to Mitchell Stumpo, who leaves a couple of bases, but is relentless on the last three Dutch batters, who are all eliminated. Italy goes to the quarterfinals.