3/6 Italy loses to Angels

Anthony Rizzo went 0-for-2, striking out twice, as Team Italy lost, 12-6, to the Angels in an exhibition game in Tempe on Wednesday. Next up for the Italian team is its first game in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday against Mexico, and it will follow that with a game against Canada on Friday. Italy will face Team USA on Saturday night. All of the games will be played at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale.

The Italy team is the underdog in its pool but its manager Marco Mazzieri recalls a win over Team USA in the 2007 Baseball World Cup.

“This is one of the first things I told my guys when I took over in 2007: One single game, you never know what can happen,” he said. “Maybe they kind of underestimate us and they don’t go out as ready as they should. If we pitch good and minimize mistakes, we can maximize results.”

– Carrie Muskat