Australia v Italy

So much for that thought that Italy would be the only team Australia would beat in the World Baseball Classic
Unable to solve Jason Grilli or any of the other Italian pitchers it faced at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex on Tuesday night, Australia found its easiest task in 'Pool D' to be rather rough

It appears their remaining schedule for the week will include the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and near-certain elimination

With John Stephens unable to match Grilli's mastery or even provide what could be termed a respectable start, Australia fell behind early and never recovered on its way to a mercy-rule loss

With Italy leading 10-0 after seven innings and World Baseball Classic rules in place, the game was called
Tom Gregorio's two-out RBI single off Craig Anderson ended the game
If a team has a 10-run lead after both teams have had at least seven at-bats, the mercy rule is put in effect

Grilli, who has made 18 appearances in four big-league seasons, was simply sensational, allowing one hit and recording seven strikeouts in 4-1/3 innings
The only hit he allowed came when Trent Durrington doubled with one out in the fourth inning

While Grilli allowed just one of the 15 batters he faced to reach safely, Stephens simply couldn't find a groove
The 26-year-old right-hander allowed three earned runs and issued three walks in 1-2/3 innings
Just 21 of his 47 pitches were strikes

Most of the damage against Stephens came in Italy's three-run second inning
Helped with two walks, the Italians gained the early advantage with the help of Frank Menechino's two-out, two-run double

Mike Piazza, Italy's most recognizable player, continued his team's offensive charge by beginning the third inning with a double off Paul Mildren
Two batters later, he trotted home on a Valentino Pascuccci triple that appeared to be going over the center-field wall before Trent Oeltjen got a glove on it and brought it back into the field of play

Unfortunately for the Australians, Oeltjen wasn't able to provide the same acrobatics on the balls that Mark Saccomanno and Vincent Sinisi drilled for two-run homers in the fifth and sixth innings

Saccomanno, Frank Catalanotto and Dustin Delucchi paced the 11-hit attack with two hits apiece

The first four Australians to take the mound - Stephens, Mildren, Adam Bright and Rich Thomson - all allowed at least two earned runs

This one didn't have quite the following that the early game attracted, but international play was still alive and well late into a chilly Florida evening on Tuesday night

Before a half-full stadium under the lights at the Wide World of Sports complex at Disney, Italy and Australia met for Game 2 among the teams that comprise 'Pool D' in the World Baseball Classic
In a stark contrast to the earlier matchup of Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, which drew a sellout crowd and proved to be a close contest for eight frames, only one team was impressive offensively

That was Team Italy, which defeated Australia, 10-0, in a game that was called after seven because of the mercy rule

Skipper Matt Galante's Italian team jumped to an early lead with a three-run second frame
Pete Zoccolillo walked, moved to third and scored on Dustin Delucchi's groundout, and after Tony Giarratano walked, Frank Menechino drove in two runs with a double to left

Mark Saccomanno provided power at the bottom of the order, doubling and scoring in the second frame, and knocking a two-run homer in the fifth, giving Italy a comfortable 7-0 lead

Vincent Sinisi's two-run shot in the sixth continued the blowout, and Tom Gregorio's double to the gap plated the 10th and final run for Italy

"Flintoff's Focus"
While we await the match report from Adrian Dunn in the US, those who watched this game on ESPN back here in Australia will fail to believe how even such a talented writer and such a devotee of Aussie baseball as 'AD' will be able to put a positive spin on this outcome?
While I hesitate to say it, because it should not have been true, our Australian AROOS appeared firstly overawed, then out of their depth and then ultimately outclassed by that traditional baseball powerhouse ITALY!
In those famous words of John McEnroe - "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!"
Some day, someone will be able to adequately explain to me why MLB found it necessary to produce unique "qualification rules" for the Italian team so that it could field such a highly credentialled team of Americans as it has done at this most prestigious of baseball tournaments
Basically anyone who has any direct descendant of Italian heritage dating back to the 11th century can play for Team Italia who was able to boast players of the calibre of Mike Piazza and Frank Catalanotto who both hail from that most famous of Italian cities NEW YORK!
If that all sounds like "sour grapes" to you, then you are probably right because it would not be in a lifetime of Sundays that any REAL Italian team would be able to embarrass the Australian National Team in the way they have today with a one-hit, seven innings 0-10 mercy rule shutout!
Sure, genuine Italian teams at other tournaments have had occasional wins against Australia over the years, but NEVER in such a dominant way
We would back Australia to win at least seven times out of ten games against a true Italy National Team on any type of level playing field
What this does to elevate or develop the sport of baseball in Australia is a complete mystery for me?
As one loud mouth genius that you could hear clearly on the TV broadcast yelled derisively near the end of the game "Thanks for coming Australia" - that really says it all I'm afraid!
As the US commentators noted during the broadcast, the most imperative thing for the future of Australian baseball is the re-establishment of our NATIONAL LEAGUE
The World Baseball Classic is little more than a sideshow and it is certainly not done for the benefit of Aussie baseball, or those committed and loyal supporters like us that would like to improve the profile of baseball in OZ!
A loss of this kind, regardless of the circumstances, WILL NOT attract NEW baseball supporters to the game in Australia - worse still, if anything, it might well make sure that they don't get interested!

Italy inflicted a mercy rule defeat over Australia in its opening game of the World Baseball Classic tonight
It was, as David Nilsson ruefully noted, as tough a loss as you would wish to endure as Italy emerged with an unexpected 10-0 win

Not only did the Italian pitchers shut down the Australian offence, they handcuffed them to one hit in a comprehensive victory

Under the rules of the World Baseball Classic, the game was called in the bottom of the seventh when Thomas Gregorio, who pinch hit for All Star catcher Mike Piazza, laced a run-scoring double
Gregorio’s double pushed the Italian scoreline into double digits and, mercifully, for the Australians brought an end to a game that never left the tarmac let alone reached the lofty heights the team had hoped

Italy’s starter Jason Grilli and reliever Ricardo De Santis held the Australian’s to a solitary hit - a double by Trent Durrington - during a combined seven innings
Grilli, who has pitched in the majors with Florida, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers, struck out seven and allowed just the Durrington hit in his 4.2 innings work
De Santis, who has never played professionally in the States, threw a two and a third innings of no-hit ball and fanned two

Australian manager Jon Deeble said full credit went to the Italians who swung the bats aggressively, pitched extremely well and took advantage of some errant defence
“They have a major league team and played accordingly” Deeble said
“They outplayed us across the board”

The Italians banged out 12 hits, including home runs to centrefielder Vincent Sinisi and third baseman Mark Saccomanno while Toronto Blue Jays veteran Frank Catalanotto chipped in with a single and a triple
Piazza had a double, a walk and two ground outs

Nilsson described the loss as “extremely surprising and disappointing”, but he said nothing should be taken away from the Italians
“You have to give them credit, they played very well” Nilsson said
“They swung the bats very well and their starting pitcher really threw the ball well and put them in a good position to get the win
It’s extremely disappointing on our behalf to not even compete and to not even make it close”

Grilli set the tone for his time on the mound when he struck out the first two Australian hitters - Trent Oeltjen and Durrington - both looking at third strikes

It would prove a recurring theme as Piazza used his experience behind the plate to full advantage and the home plate umpire gave the Italian pitchers the outside corner

Six of the nine Australians struck out were struck out looking, including Glenn Williams twice
Justin Huber also struck out in two of his three at bats

The Italians retired the first 10 batters before Durrington’s double to the right field fence, but Grilli and De Santis then retired the next 11 batters

Outfielder Dustin Delucchi and Toronto Blue Jay infielder Frank Menechino ended Australian starter John Stephens’ evening in the bottom of the second when Italy rushed to a 3-0 lead

Stephens said he just didn’t have the control he wanted and as a consequence paid wasn’t able to get out of the second inning
“I just missed my spots, not by much and a couple more inches would have been a different game” Stephens said
“But it’s just tough when you go out there and you don’t have that location
And, I definitely need that”

Deeble used four more pitchers - Paul Mildren, Adam Bright, Rich Thompson and Craig Anderson - but none were able to contain the free-swinging Italians

Australia has a rest day tomorrow before it plays Venezuela, who lost 11-6 to Dominican Republic yesterday in the other 'Pool D' match

Australia looks set to make an early exit from the inaugural World Baseball Classic after being crushed 10-0 by Italy in its opening game in Orlando, Florida

The Olympic Silver Medallists never recovered after falling three runs behind in the bottom of the second, with Italy needing less than eight innings to claim the win after the 10-run mercy rule was enforced

Italy had loomed as Australia's most beatable opponent in 'Group D'
But with the European country fielding a team made up entirely of American-born players with Italian heritage - including the likes of 11-time Major League All Star Mike Piazza - Australia struggled to force the game to nine innings, finishing with just one hit

Australia plays Latin powerhouses Venezuela and the Dominican Republic on Friday and Saturday (Australian time), needing to cause a pair of major upsets to stand any chance of advancing to the second round

New Boston Red Sox recruit Trent Durrington struck Australia's only hit of the game today - a double in the top of the fourth - with starting pitcher Jason Grilli and then Italy's relievers dominating

John Stephens started on the mound for Australia, but struggled for control, and was replaced after just 1-2/3 innings after giving up three earned runs

Italy dug deep into the family history of a host of Major League players to put together a world-class outfit for the Classic, the first international tournament in the sport's history to feature the world's best professional players

Australia, led by 37-year-old former All Star Dave Nilsson, meanwhile has only a handful of players with Major League experience on its roster, and is without several top line players because of injury and unavailability

Perhaps it was the temperature - for it was indeed quite chilly - or perhaps it was the lack of fan support, or maybe the U.S. Major-League-studded Italian line-up, but for whatever reason, Australia's National team just never got going in their opening game at the World Baseball Classic at Walt Disney World's Wide World of Sports complex in Orlando Florida

Though they never gave up, they went down 10-0 in the seventh inning and, in accordance with WBC rules, the game was stopped

From the outset, Italian pitcher Jason Grillo showed that he had great control and good speed, blazing 90+ mph fastballs past the Australian batters and then dropping sharp breaking balls over the corners

Australian pitcher John Stephens pitched well, but the Italian hitters showed from the start that they could connect as Italian lead-off hitter Tony Giarratano dropped a long fly in between the outfielders in right center for a double
Stephens pitched his way out of the inning, but the Italians team had given notice that they were onto him
Grillo got the Aussies in order in the top of the second

When the Italians came to bat, things turned bad for Australia in a hurry
First baseman Valentino Pascucci flied out to deep right center, and DH Pete Zoccolillo got on base with a walk
Then third baseman Marc Saccomanno hit a hard double to left field, putting runners on second and third with only one out
Right fielder Dustin DeLucchi hit a line shot right at Aussie first baseman Justin Huber for the second out, but Zoccolillo took the opportunity to head for home for the first score of the game
Aussie pitcher John Stephens walked Tony Giarratano, and then Frank Menechino drove one through the hole at shortstop for a double, scoring two runners and advancing to third on a throwing error
The Aussies decided a pitching change was in order, and brought in Paul Mildren to try to save the inning
Mildren did just that, getting Frank Catalannatto to ground out, ending the Italian run

After Australia went down in order in the third, Italy picked up where they had left off in the second inning as leadoff hitter Mike Piazza drove a double down the left field line which almost hit the foul pole as it bounced out of the park
Vincent Sinisi hit a fly ball to mid-center field which Trent Oeltjen caught; then Valentino Pascucci slammed a shot which seemed to be headed over the center field wall
Oeltjen leaped high and knocked it down, quite possibly saving a run
Piazza was able to score from second, though, while Pascucci ended up on third
Aussie pitcher Paul Mildren stuck out the next two batters, leaving Pascucci on third, but Italy now held a four-zip lead

The fourth inning opened with an unsuccessful bunt attempt by Australia's Trent Oeltjen; then second baseman Trent Durrington finally broke the hitless streak when he drove a double to deep right center
However, he was left stranded as Justin Huber stuck out and DH David Nilsson lined right back to Grillo, who easily threw him out

Italy carried on with their winning ways, as Dustin DeLucchi dropped a blooper single over second, followed by a Tony Giarratano single grounder into right field
Frank Menechino then drove a sacrifice fly to deep center, advancing the runner from second to third
At this point the Aussies brought in another relief pitcher, #11 Adam Bright
Bright started off well, nearly catching Giarratano with a pickoff attempt at first
However, Franco Catalanotto then drove a fly ball into left field
Left Fielder Brett Roneberg fired a perfect throw to the plate but it was a fraction of a second late and the tag missed by inches
Mike Piazza was up next, and he slammed a high hopper over the pitcher's head
Second baseman Trent Durrington made an excellent play, charging from near the edge of the outfield halfway to the pitcher's mound to corral the bouncing ball, check the runners, and make the play at first
Bright then struck out Vincent Sinisi to end the inning
Italy left two but scored one, extending their lead to 5-0

Australia opened the fifth with Glenn Williams striking out, followed by a fly out by Brett Roneberg
At this point the Italian team had to change pitchers (WBC rules limit the number of pitches a pitcher may throw in each game)
They brought in Ricardo DiSantis, who got shortstop Brad Harman to pop out to third

Aussie reliever Adam Bright struck out Valentino Pascucci, but then hit the next Italian batter, DH Pete Zoccolillo, with an errant pitch
His next pitch, to Italian third baseman Marc Saccomanno, was a ball
Saccomanno drove the next pitch long and high into right field, over the fence, over the bullpen and completely out of the park for a two run home run, putting Italy ahead 7-0
Dustin DeLucchi grounded out to second, and Tony Giarratano drew a walk
Australia brought in yet another relief pitcher, right-hander Rich Thompson
Next up, Frank Menechino hit a broken-bat grounder to short, leading to a force out at second

The sixth inning saw Australia go down in order yet again, as Italian hurler DiSantis proved as capable as starter Grillo at suppressing the Aussie batters

Richard Thompson did not have such luck, as Franco Catalanotto opened with a triple to right field
Catcher Mike Piazza grounded out, then Sinisi redeemed his prior strikeout by blasting a 1-0 pitch out of the park for a two-run homer
Thompson walked the next two batters, then got Mark Saccomano to hit into a double play

Australia's luck continued to be bad, as Trent Durrington and Justin Huber both struck out to start the seventh
Replacement DH Brendan Kingman hit a long hopper down the third base line and was thrown out, ending the Australian seventh

Australia brought in left-hander Craig Anderson to pitch the seventh inning - as it turned out, he didn't get much work
Italy started off strong in the bottom of the seventh, as right fielder Dustin DeLucchi ripped a long single to left center
Tony Giarratano then drove a hard shot into left-center, but a spectacular sliding catch by left fielder Brett Roneberg robbed him of the RBI
Menechino, up next, hit a check swing sacrifice to short, advancing DeLucchi to second
Replacement infielder Claudio Liverziani drew a base on balls, putting runners at first and second
Replacement catcher Thomas Gregorio, in his first at-bat in the series, smacked a stand-up double into right center field, scoring the two runners and putting Italy up 10-0

World Baseball Classic rules specify that if a team takes a lead of ten runs or greater the game is called
So Italy took the win, and Australia will regroup and prepare for its next game

Australian star Trent Durrington said after the game:-
"We're Aussies, so we play 100% on every play
We compete to the bitter end
That's why you see players risking injury diving for balls in the last inning when we're down by nine
But (Italian pitcher) Jason Grilli always seemed to be ahead in the count, and we were always playing catch-up"