Mexico outhit Italy to earn second win
It will go down on record as a game of lost opportunities, and Italy will have a lot to regret. They forced the favourites Mexico to use five pitchers, rushing a quick call to the bullpen in the bottom of the first, but couldn't hold on to the lead. In the end, Mexico outhit Italy (14-11) and earned a 12-7 win.
Mexico got on the scoreboard when a towering fly to left field by second baseman Manuel Estrada went beyond Alessandro Volpe for a ground rule double.
Italy struck right back in the bottom of the first. They got to starter Jesus Lopez with three consecutive hits, and second baseman Williams Wong batted in two runs to reverse the lead.
Victor Landeros got Mexico out of the first. He would be the second of five Mexican pitchers and would earn the win.
In the top of the third, Mexico took the lead back. With runners at second and third and two outs, Alberto Barriga hit a double along the left field line off starter Giacomo Taschin and put Mexico ahead. Daniel Sierra and Antonis Macias followed with extra-base hits and opened the score.
With Mexico leading 9-3, Italy rallied in the bottom of the fifth. Reliever Angel Garza hit and walked the first two batters, and then he gave up back-to-back hits to Marco Ragionieri and Alessandro Volpe. Eduardo Cornelli doubled off Anhuar Garcia, the fifth Mexican pitcher. While rounding second, he didn't see another Italian runner standing at third. He became the second out at third, and the rally didn't go any further.
World No. 4 Mexico stand at 2:1 for the tournament so far while Italy, ranked 17th, have picked up three defeats from as many games.