03/14/26 05:58:00
Printable Page
03/14 17:56 CDT Italy's unbeaten WBC run rolls on with an 8-6 win over Puerto
Rico and semifinal berth
Italy's unbeaten WBC run rolls on with an 8-6 win over Puerto Rico and
semifinal berth
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer
HOUSTON (AP) --- J.J. D'Orazio doubled with three RBIs and Andrew Fischer drove
in two runs as Italy kept up its charmed World Baseball Classic run with an 8-6
win over Puerto Rico on Saturday to earn its first trip to the semifinals.
The Azzurri improved to 5-0 in the tournament and advanced to face defending
champion Japan or Venezuela on Monday night in Miami.
Italy trailed only briefly after a leadoff home run by Willi Castro before
scoring four runs in the first inning to go on top for good. Puerto Rico
rallied late, scoring four runs in the eighth, but Greg Weissert allowed one
hit in a scoreless ninth for a five-out save.
Puerto Rico, in the quarterfinals for a sixth time, fell to 1-2 against Italy
in the WBC.
Italy was up by two in the fourth when it drew three straight walks that loaded
the bases with two outs. Fischer hit a ball to right field that a fan reached
over the fence to catch, and Fischer was credited with a double on fan
interference for a 6-2 lead. D'Orazio followed with a two-run, ground-rule
double.
Eddie Rosario hit into a run-scoring forceout in the eighth, Joe La Sorsa threw
a run-scoring wild pitch and Christian Vzquez hit a two-run single. Weissert
allowed a two-out single before retiring Nolan Arenado on an inning-ending
groundout.
Castro's shot to the Crawford Boxes in left field on winner Sam Aldegheri's
fourth pitch put Puerto Rico, its second home run of the tournament.
Vinnie Pasquantino, who set a WBC record with three homers in Italy's previous
game, hit a tying single in the bottom half, and RBI singles by Dominic Canzone
and Jac Caglianone chased loser Seth Lugo. D'Orazio hit a sacrifice fly off
Jovani Morn.
Aldegheri walked two batters with one out in the second and hit Matthew Lugo on
the top of a foot with a pitch. Alek Jacob forced in a run when he entered with
the bases loaded and plunked Martin Maldonado with his first pitch.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
|
