World Baseball Classic: United States sneaks into quarterfinals with Italy&x27;s dominant win over Mexico Ryan Young Thu, March 12, 2026 at 2:40 AM UTC 1 Well, the United States is moving on after all. Italy took a big lead early and rolled to a dominant 91 win over Mexico on Wednesday at Daikin Park in Houston. That eliminated Mexico and ensured that the United States reached the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic after its stunning loss to Italy on Tuesday.
World Baseball Classic: United States sneaks into quarterfinals with Italy's dominant win over Mexico
Ryan Young Thu, March 12, 2026 at 2:40 AM UTC
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Well, the United States is moving on after all.
Italy took a big lead early and rolled to a dominant 9-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday at Daikin Park in Houston. That eliminated Mexico and ensured that the United States reached the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic after its stunning loss to Italy on Tuesday.
Had Mexico beaten Italy in a low-scoring game or rallied for a wild, extra-innings thriller, it would have been much more complicated for the United States to find a way into the next round.
Because Italy finished 4-0 and won Pool B, the United States advances as the runner-up in the pool. The Americans will take on Canada in their quarterfinal matchup (8 p.m. ET Friday in Houston). Canada beat Cuba earlier Wednesday to finish 3-1 and win Pool A, making Puerto Rico the runner-up. Italy will face Puerto Rico in the next round (3 p.m. ET Saturday).
Starting pitchers have yet to be announced, but it's likely Logan Webb will take the ball for Team USA in the quarterfinals after pitching the Americans' first game of pool play against Brazil.
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Italy's captain puts the team on his back
Vinnie Pasquantino hit three home runs to lead Italy, marking the first time in WBC history that's been done in a single game.
He started the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning, though the ball just barely made it past the glove of Mexican right fielder Jarren Duran.
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Jon Berti then doubled that lead in the fourth inning with a deep shot over the left-field wall.
Although Mexico swapped pitchers in the fifth after Javier Assad finished his day with five strikeouts, the Italians quickly added another run when a perfect bunt scored Jac Caglianone.
Then it was Jakob Marsee who hit a two-run single that gave Italy the 5-0 lead the United States needed to see.
Pasquantino, for good measure, hit two more home runs the rest of the way, finishing with three on the night. Berti drove in a run in the seventh, too.
Mexico added a run in the seventh, so it wasn't a shutout, but the rally was far too little, too late. The Mexicans will finish their WBC run 2-2 in Pool B.
Team USA is moving on after all
Italy jumped to an 8-0 lead over Team USA on Tuesday and then held on for an 8-6 win to take the lead in Pool B. But thanks to their six late runs, the Americans still had a shot to advance if it went to a tiebreaker.
They had to sweat it out Wednesday in Houston, but ultimately the Italian offensive barrage made things fairly simple. Italy finished Pool B 4-0, while the USA finished 3-1.
The Americans almost let their shot slip away, but Team USA is still alive in the World Baseball Classic.
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: March 12, 2026 at 04:28PM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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