Nori homers twice, Canzone drives in 4 as Italy blanks Brazil

Dante Nori hit two home runs and Dominic Canzone homered with four RBIs to help Italy to an 8-0 win over Brazil in Pool B play on Saturday in Houston.

The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when Zach Dezenzo hit an RBI single with one out to put Italy on top. Jac Caglianone followed with a two-out double that scored another run but Dezenzo was tagged out at home on the play to end the inning.

Nori’s first home run came with one out in the seventh to make it 3-0. There was one out with two outs when Canzone’s homer to right center field extended the lead to 6-0.

There was one out in the eighth when Nori went deep again on a solo shot to right center that made it 7-0. Canzone had an RBI double with two outs to leave Italy up 8-0.

Brazil managed just four singles to fall to 0-5 all time in the tournament after losing to Japan, Cuba and China in 2013 in its only other WBC appearance. The team lost to the United States 15-5 in its WBC opener on Friday night.

Brazil starter Enzo Sawayama allowed two hits in four scoreless innings and Italy starter Sam Aldegheri allowed one hit and struck out eight in 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

Italy plays Great Britain on Sunday and Brazil faces Mexico on Sunday night.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb