Nicaragua’s Corea Too Much for Italy

Fredy Corea struck out 12, two shy of the Olympic record, in eight innings, leading Nicaragua to a 7-2 victory over Italy.

Nicaragua (1-1) rebounded from its opening-day loss to the United States by scoring all of its runs in the first three innings. A passed ball and Erasmo Baca’s two-run homer put Nicaragua up, 3-1, in the first, and Anibal Vega hit a three-run homer as part of a four-run third inning.

Italy (1-1), coming off its opening upset of South Korea, managed nine hits and two runs--one unearned--off Corea, who walked three.

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The Netherlands, routed by Japan in its opener, rebounded with a 16-6 victory over Australia (0-2).

Marcel Joost went four for five with two runs batted in. The game lasted only eight innings and was the second game in a row for the Netherlands (1-1) that ended early because of the international 10-run “mercy” rule. The team lost to Japan, 12-2.