Jac Caglianone went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, a walk and a HBP in Team Italy’s 8-6 win over Team USA on Tuesday.
Perhaps the most incredible thing about Italy’s win tonight is the top five hitters in the lineup combined to go 0-for-22. It was Kyle Teel, Caglianone and Sam Antonacci from the sixth-through-eighth spots providing all of the offense, which each hitting a homer. The win moves Italy to 3-0 in Pool B play ahead of its game with Mexico on Wednesday. If Italy wins the game, it wins the pool and Team USA advances as the runnerup. If Mexico wins, it sets up a tiebreaker between the three clubs, with the two teams with the fewest runs allowed advancing. Ironically, Team USA’s furious late-inning comeback tonight probably hurt its chances of advancing, just because Italy churned through all of its best relievers and its bullpen will be lacking Wednesday.