European Championship Baseball 2023: Embarrassment Italy vs Sweden

On the second day of the European Championship Baseball 2023, one of Europe’s power houses made quite a misstep against Sweden. The Scandinavian country had some US-born players on its roster, but the vast majority is Swedish-born.

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For three innings, both teams were kept in check by the opponent’s pitcher. But in thebottom of the fourth inning, the Swedish bats woke up. It all started with Daniel Johnson, who led off with a double down the left field line, followed by singles hit by Jeff Pruitt and Thomas Paulich, that put Sweden on the board. A sac fly to right field and a wild pitch gave Sweden a 3-0 lead.

With two outs and runners on first and second, Tommy Lindell was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The next batter, Joel Johnson, came through as he hit a grand slam to left field to give Sweden a comfortable 7-0 lead.

The Italians were kept in check by Per Sjörs in the first six innings, as he allowed only three hits. But in the seventh, Italy finally came on the board. A sac fly to right field, hit by Javier Jesus d’Orazio, drove in the first run for the Azurri. A double down the right field line in the eighth inning drove in another run for the Italians. Their final run was scored in the ninth, when Sebastiano Poma scored on a sac fly.

Before we for get it, Sweden added one more run in the sixth frame when relief pitcher Claudio Scotti balked with the bases loaded.

Winning pitcher was Per Sjörs, who went eight innings in which he allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, as he struck out five. Gabriele Quattrini took the loss as he lasted only 3.1 innings in which he gave up five runs on five hits and one walk, as he struck out two.

Oskar Jerfsten was the best hitter for Sweden as he went 2 for 3 with an RBI.

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