The Italian national team achieved the biggest win in baseball history on Tuesday, defeating the favored United States 8-6 in Houston to take the lead in Group B of the World Classic.
The Italians combined well with six hits, half of them homers, to remain undefeated and move closer to the quarterfinals.
Italy strikes first with power
With two outs, Kyle Teell homered in the second, Jac Caglianone was hit by a ball and Sam Antonacci knocked the ball out of the park to make the score 3-0.
The lead was extended with a home run by Caglione in the fourth inning with a teammate on base.
Italy starter Michael Lorenzen limited the U.S. offense to two hits in four and two-thirds innings.
The Italians added three runs in the sixth inning, one that came in on a pitcher’s error, another on a sacrifice fly by Dante Nori and another on a wild pitch.
The United States gambled on coming back from 0-8.
In the sixth inning they scored a run with a home run by Gunnar Henderson and in the seventh inning they got closer 8-4 with a three-run homer.
This by combining Paul Goldschmidt’s single with Brice Turand’s double and Pete Crow-Armstrong’s home run.
The Americans added a run in the eighth by joining hits from Kyle Schwarber, Will Smith and Roman Anthony, the latter to make the score 8-5.
Historic win over the United States
Crow-Armstrong hit his second home run of the game in the ninth act to make the score 8-6.
And to stir up the fans at Daikin Park, hoping to turn the score around.
In front of reliever Greg Weissert, who came in to work with one out, Bobby Witt Jr. hit a single.
But the reliever from Italy recovered and struck out Gunnar Henderson and Aaron Judge, one of the two biggest hitters in baseball today for the United States.
For Italy, Caglianone batted 2-2 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored.
For the United States, Crow-Armstrong went 4-2 with two home runs and four runs batted in.
Quarterfinals are defined
The Italians combined six hits effectively
QuéOnnda.com
Lorenzen won and the American starter, Nolan Mclean, lost, with Greg Weissert saving the day.
Italy reached three wins without defeat and leads the group, followed by the United States (3-1), Mexico (2-1), Great Britain (1-3) and Brazil (1-4).
This Wednesday, Italy will face Mexico in the match that will decide the two qualifiers from the group to the round of eight.
With information from EFE
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