A magical night from Erly Casanova gave Parma Clima a decisive victory on the field of San Marino in the third game of the Italian Baseball Series.
Ducali won with a score of 2 to 0 at the end of the game dominated by the pitchers. Casanova pitched a thrilling complete game shutout, striking out nine and allowing just three hits and one base ball. Venezuelan Lage was also good as he bowed out in the sixth inning, hit by the only hit of the ducals, a base full single by Wander Encarnacion.
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Parma Clima took the field with the same lineup as in the first two matches. Mineo received Casanova’s pitches that designated Encarnacion, Liddi at third base, Angioi at second, Ascanio at first and Luis Gonzalez at shortstop. The winger line formed by Desimoni, Battioni and Noel Gonzalez was also confirmed.
San Marino got Angulo back, deployed as the designated hitter with Di Fabio at third base and Ferrini at second. The rest of the team was confirmed with Lopez at shortstop, Alvarez at catcher, Diaz at first and Tromp, Celli and Batista making up the group of outfielders. The first ball of the game landed in the hands of Jesus Lage.
The home pitcher emerged unscathed from a rough first round. Angioi benefited from his mistake, Liddi and Luis Gonzalez got two base balls and Mineo appeared in the box with two outs and all the cushions occupied. Lage faced the Ducal catcher with determination and got a vital strikeout.
Casanova’s start was more convincing as he closed the first round with three consecutive eliminations and strikeouts against Tromp and Angulo. The second round did not give any emotion, the third ended with two rounds “three up and three down”.
The beautiful duel between Lage and Casanova continued in the fourth quarter. The home pitcher silenced the bats of Luis Gonzalez, Mineo and Encarnacion by making two outs at the plate in the last two. On the other hand, Casanova continued to collect eliminations, reaching twelve consecutive eliminations with the sixth “kappa” against Ferrini.
To see a runner on the cushions again it was necessary to wait until the beginning of the fifth inning with Angioi receiving a free base. His next steal attempt, however, ended in a clear elimination due to a precise and powerful assist from Alvarez for Lopez. After 14 consecutive outs, Casanova allowed Batista to get on base by throwing him four balls. The Ducale defense reacted immediately by scoring a double play by Luis Gonzalez and Ascanio.
Parma Clima took advantage of an empty pass from Lage to become dangerous in the sixth inning. With one out, Noel Gonzalez got on four balls, Liddi was hit and Luis Gonzalez loaded the bases on a free base. Astorri replaced Mineo at bat and hit Lage’s ninth strikeout but Encarnacion had the first hit of the night and pushed the score to home plate to make it 2-0.
That was the turning point of the meeting. Casanova also gritted his teeth in the sixth and seventh innings, giving up three hits to Di Fabio, Tromp and Alvarez but leaving the game as the winner.
The fourth game will be played tomorrow night with Diaz and Centeno as possible starting pitchers.
(In the cover photo, the celebrations at the end of Game Three – Photo: Corrado Benedetti for Parma baseball)