San Marino Baseball let Parma come from behind to snatch a 5-7 win in Game 3 of the Italian Baseball Series. The Titans, ahead 5-2 after three innings, failed to hold their advantage and were overtaken decisively in the final frame. Parma now lead 2-1 in the series.
San Marino got off to a strong start, going ahead immediately on Lino‘s sacrifice fly. Parma hit back in the third with a two-run homer from Geraldo, but the home side then exploded in their half of the inning: with the bases loaded, Lino once again took centre stage, blasting a grand slam to make it 5-2.
From that point on, however, the San Marino offense lost its edge and Parma began clawing their way back. Leonora cut the gap to 5-3, before a home run from Helmig made it 5-4 in the sixth. In the eighth, the visitors completed their comeback: a double from Flisi, a bunt from Astorri and a sacrifice fly from Battioni levelled the score at 5-5.
San Marino had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the eighth, putting the first two runners on base, but Bocchi took the mound and struck out three batters in a row.
The game was decided in the ninth. Geraldo singled and Garcia sent the ball out of the park for a two-run homer to make it 7-5. In the final at-bat, Bocchi gave the Titans nothing, closing out the contest for good.
Parma now lead 2-1 in the Italian Baseball Series. Game 4 is scheduled for this evening, Tuesday 1 September, at 8pm in Serravalle.
