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Team USA can breathe a sigh of relief and can thank Team Italy, the team that put their World Baseball Classic hopes in limbo, after their victory over Team Mexico on Tuesday night.
With Italy’s 9-1 victory at Daikin Park, they won Group B with a perfect 4-0 record and earned a spot in the WBC quarterfinals.
But Italy also ensured that Team USA’s run in the tournament continues despite handing the star-studded group a shocking 8-6 defeat on Monday night.
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Vinnie Pasquantino of Italy hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against Mexico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Pool B at Daikin Park on March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
Team USA knew coming into this game that they would be big fans of Italy, one of the most surprising teams of the tournament so far, but one that would be exciting to watch. They have the fun espresso home run celebration, which has been used a ton, including in Tuesday night’s game, and a mix of veterans and top prospects who have been taking their group hits on the field.
However, Vinnie Pasquantino, the captain of the Kansas City Royals team, came into this contest without a single hit in three games. Fortunately for Italy (and indirectly for the United States), his first three hits of the tournament made the difference.
Pasquantino hit three solo home runs in the victory, marking the first time in WBC history that a player went three yards in a single game.
TEAM USA’S WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC HOPES TAKE A BIG BLOW WITH ITALY UPSET
He put Team Italy on the board first in the top of the second, hitting a 342-foot blast to right field. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, he hit a towering shot that landed just down the right field line to again make a free trip around the bases.
As he approached the plate in the top of the eighth inning, Pasquantino, who already had two shots of espresso after his first two long balls, got enough to clear the right field fence one last time.
Jon Berti of Italy reacts after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against Mexico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Pool B at Daikin Park on March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)
But, like in the other three games, there was not a single Italian batsman who showed his power. Jon Berti, who has had a great tournament so far, made use of Crawford’s boxes in left field, hitting one far enough in the top of the fourth inning to extend Italy’s lead to 2-0.
Meanwhile, Mexico couldn’t get the bats going against veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, the Philadelphia Phillies’ reliable starter who had his patented knuckleball curve working in Houston. He pitched five innings, allowing just four hits and striking out five in 69 pitches.
The game also began to drift away from Mexico in the top of the fifth inning, when nine-hit Dante Nori delivered a perfect sacrifice bunt that scored Pasquantino’s Royals teammate Jac Caglianone to make the game 3-0. Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee then found himself in trouble with a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored two runners before he was intercepted at first base to end the inning.
With a 7-0 lead, Mexico, facing desperation, saw some offensive life in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and no outs. But after Alek Thomas grounded out to first and Rowdy Tellez lined out Pasquantino for the second out, Jarren Duran struck out because they could only get one run out of a potentially game-changing situation.
Vinnie Pasquantino of Italy runs the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against Mexico during the 2026 World Baseball Classic between Italy and Mexico at Daikin Park on March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
Pasquantino’s third home run gave the Italian team back the momentum, and they carried them into the final frame where they sealed the victory.
While Italy advances to the quarterfinals, Mexico is eliminated as its players will return to their respective major league camps to finish spring training.
Team USA’s quarterfinal matchup will be against Team Canada, the winners of Group A, at 8 pm ET at Daikin Park on March 13.
