Italy holds off Great Britain to move to 2-0 in WBC

Andrew Fischer homered and drove in two runs, and J.J. D’Orazio also went deep to lead Italy over Great Britain 7-4 in Pool B play.

Italy improved to 2-0 after winning its opener against Brazil on Saturday. Great Britain was eliminated after falling to 0-3 with losses to Mexico and the United States before Sunday’s defeat.

The game was tied at 2-2 with one out in the fourth when Zach Dezenzo doubled for Italy. There were two outs in the inning when an RBI single by Fischer put the Italians on top. D’Orazio reached on an error before a double by Miles Mastrobuoni sent another run home.

Dante Nori, who homered twice Saturday, added an RBI single to push the lead to 5-2.

Dezenzo walked with one out in the fifth and scored on a triple by Sam Antonacci. A throwing error by Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the play allowed Antonacci to score to put Italy up 7-2.

Nate Eaton’s second double of the game opened the eighth and he scored on a single by Chisholm to cut into Italy's lead. Great Britain added a run on a wild pitch later in the inning to get within three.

Eaton hit a leadoff double a day after connecting on Tarik Skubal’s first pitch for a home run in the Brits' loss to the U.S. Chisholm then singled before stealing second base with one out in the first. There were two outs in the inning when Dylan DeLucia threw consecutive wild pitches to let two runners score and give Britain an early lead.

Fischer cut the lead to 2-1 when he opened Italy’s third with a home run. D’Orazio followed with his home run to right center field to tie it.