Italian baseball team Cairese fell to Sanremo in a 11-inning thriller on Sunday, marking their second consecutive loss in the Ligure derby, according to official league records. The 5-4 victory for Sanremo came after a 10-hour match that ended at 10:47 PM local time, with the deciding run scoring in the bottom of the 11th inning.
The game, held at Cairo’s Stadio Comunale, saw both teams trade leads throughout the regulation and extra innings. Cairese starter Luca Moretti allowed three earned runs across six innings, while Sanremo’s Alessio Conti pitched 10 scoreless frames before yielding the game-winning hit in the 11th, per the Italian Baseball Federation (IBF) box score.
“It’s a heartbreaking result, but we’ll regroup and focus on the next game,” said Cairese manager Marco Fabbri after the match. “Sanremo executed better in the clutch, and we have to respect that.”
Game Summary
The derby, contested between the top two teams in the Serie A1 standings, featured high-stakes playoff implications. Cairese entered the game with a 22-14 record, while Sanremo held a 23-13 mark, according to the IBF’s official website. The loss drops Cairese to a 22-15 record, while Sanremo improved to 23-13.
The contest reached 11 innings after both teams scored single runs in the bottom of the ninth. Sanremo’s 22-year-old shortstop, Matteo Ricci, delivered the decisive two-out single in the 11th, scoring from second base on a passed ball, per the game’s play-by-play transcript.
Cairese’s offense struggled against Sanremo’s bullpen, managing only two hits in the final three innings. The team’s leading hitter, 29-year-old outfielder Marco Bellini, went 1-for-4 with a double but was stranded on third base in the 10th inning, according to the IBF’s game log.
Standings Implications
The loss extends Sanremo’s lead in the Ligure division to 1.5 games, with both teams entering a critical three-game series next week. Cairese now trails Sanremo by 1.5 games in the standings, according to the IBF’s current playoff projections.
“This is a crucial moment in the season,” said Sanremo manager Giuseppe Rossi. “We’re playing for a playoff spot, and every game matters.”
The result also impacts the league’s wild card race, as Cairese now sits 1.5 games behind the third-place Avigliana Rebels, who defeated Alessandria 6-2 earlier in the day, per the IBF’s game summaries.
What’s Next
Cairese will host Avigliana on Friday at 6:00 PM local time for a doubleheader, with the first game carrying playoff implications. Sanremo will travel to Genoa for a two-game set starting Monday, according to the IBF’s schedule.
Both teams remain in contention for the 2023 Serie A1 title, with the regular season concluding on September 30. The playoffs, scheduled for October 12-15, will feature the top four teams, per the IBF’s official rules.
For fans unable to attend, the games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 253 and streamed via the IBF’s official website. Tickets for upcoming matches are available through the teams’ respective portals.
Next Match: Cairese vs. Avigliana (Friday, 6:00 PM CET) | Live Stream: IBF Official Site
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