Italy Hangs Tough, but Venezuela Shines Through
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Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Mark DiFelice held the mighty Venezuelan squad to only three hits and struck out one in four dazzling innings of work. Then Italy turned to the bullpen, and then all the pent-up frustration that was building up inside the Venezuelans was suddenly unleashed in one inning that proved to be the only offense Venezuela would need.
Jason Grilli came in for the bottom of the 5th inning, but Venezuelan slugger and Detroit Tiger Carlos Guillen launched a 1-0 fastball into the left-center field stands. After an out, a double and a walk, Grilli was replaced by Lenny DiNardo of the Kansas City Royals. He did not get off to a good start by loading the bases, and then walking Melvin Mora to force in the second run of the game. DiNardo then ran into Bobby Abreu and he smoked a single into right, plating 2 more runs and doubling Venezuela's score to 4-0.
The Venezuelan pitching was solid on all sides. The Seattle Mariners were well-represented by the winning squad, with Carlos Silva starting the game, then Felix Hernandez going four more innings, and Ober Moreno finishing the game off. Silva ducked in and out of trouble, giving up 6 hits, walking 1 and striking out 2 over four innings. Hernandez, nicknamed King Felix, struck out four, walked 2, and gave up only one hit over four innings, using his blazing fastball and a sharp slider.
Melvin Mora and Ramon Hernandez added to the Venezuelan attack, with Mora clubbing a solo blast of his own in the 7th, and Hernandez driving in a run of his own in the 8th.
Thanks to their win, Venezuela now moves on to face Team USA in the second game of the Pool C bracket. Italy has to face a scrappy but at the same time powerful Canadian team to stave off elimination.