The Italian Baseball Series started on Thursday between Unipol Bologna and defending champion ASD Rimini. The best-of-seven set is tied 1-1 after the first two games.

On Thursday Bologna won 6-2 behind a five-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Marco Sabbatani went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI. Matt Zielinski issued just four hits, a run and three walks in 5 1/3 innings for the win. Ricardo Hernandez got charged with the loss, conceding eight hits, five runs and two base on balls in 4 1/3 frames. Raul Rivero struck out seven in 2 2/3 innings of relief for Bologna.

On Friday Rimini rallied for three runs in the top of the ninth to prevail 5-3 to tie the series. Lino Zappone had the big hit with a bases clearing double. Bologna had led 3-2 since a pair of RBI singles by Ronny Cedeno and Osman Marval in the bottom of the fifth. Roberto Corradini tossed 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the win. Filippo Crepaldi got charged with the loss.

The series continues on Monday, August 15.