HOUSTON – A shortstop flop benefited Team Italy early in a pivotal matchup with Mexico in Pool B play on Wednesday night.
The Italians were ahead, 1-0, with one out in the bottom of the third when Mexico’s Joey Ortiz singled. Jarren Duran hit a fly ball to shallow left-center field, and Italy shortstop Sam Antonacci immediately and convincingly dove toward second base as if the ball had been hit his way, then got up and pretended to throw to first for a phantom double play. At the same time, second baseman Jon Berti pretended he was making a double play feed to second base.
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It was a Daikin Park deke on the part of the young Antonacci, whose act was so convincing that Ortiz, who had taken off for second on the pitch, kept motoring toward third, apparently unaware that the ball had actually gone straight into center fielder Jakob Marsee’s glove.
Marsee tossed the ball into the infield, and, with Ortiz at third base, Italy was easily able to double up Ortiz at first to end the inning.
The missed offensive opportunity for Mexico loomed even larger the next inning, when Berti’s solo homer gave Italy a 2-0 edge.