Italy’s win over Mexico sends Team USA to World Baseball Classic quarterfinals

Team USA can breathe a sigh of relief and thank Team Italy, the team that put their World Baseball Classic hopes in limbo after beating Team Mexico on Tuesday night.

Italy won Group B with a perfect 4-0 record and a place in the WBC quarter-finals with a 9-1 victory at Daikin Park.

But Italy also ensured that Team USA’s run in the tournament continued despite handing the star-studded group a shocking 8-6 defeat on Monday night.

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Team USA knew going into this game that they would be big fans of Italy, one of the most surprising teams in the tournament so far, but it was exciting to watch. There’s tons of fun espresso home run celebrations used, including the Tuesday night game, and a mix of veterans and top prospects playing pool matches on the field.

However, Vinnie Pasquantino, captain of the Kansas City Royals, entered this contest without scoring a single goal in three games. Fortunately for Italy, and indirectly for the USA, his first three shots of the tournament made the difference.

Pasquantino hit three solo home runs in the win, marking the first time in WBC history that a player struck out three times in a single game.

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He put Team Italy on the board in first place in the top of the second inning with a 342-foot blast to right field. Then, in the top of the sixth inning, he hit a high shot that stayed down the right field line for another free trip around the bases.

Pasquantino, who was already two espresso shots deep after his first two long balls when he stepped to the plate in the top of the eighth inning, was able to get it over the right field fence one last time.

Italy’s Jon Berti reacts after hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning against Mexico in the 2026 World Baseball Classic – Pool B at Daikin Park on March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Houston Astros/Getty Images)

However, as in the other three matches, there was not a single Italian spiker showing off his power. Jon Berti, who has had a great tournament so far, increased Italy’s lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth inning, using Crawford’s box out to left field.

Mexico, meanwhile, couldn’t get the bats to work against veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, the reliable Philadelphia Phillies starter who worked his patented joint curve in Houston. He struck out five, allowed just four hits and struck out 69-plus.

The game also began to pull away from Mexico in the top of the fifth inning when nine-hitter Dante Nori hit a perfect sacrifice bunt that scored Pasquantino’s Royals teammate Jac Caglianone to make it 3-0. Then, Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee stepped in with a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored two runners before being selected at first base to end the inning.

Facing desperation, Mexico saw some offensive life at the end of the seventh quarter, with the bases loaded and no outs, as it took a 7-0 lead. But they were only able to squeeze one run out of what could have been a game-changer after Alek Thomas grounded out to first and Jarren Duran struck out second to Rowdy Tellez to Pasquantino.

Italy’s Vinnie Pasquantino 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)

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Pasquantino’s third home run gave the Italian team momentum and they carried it into the final frame where they sealed the victory.

While Italy advanced to the quarterfinals, Mexico was eliminated and its players will return to major league camps to complete spring training.

Team USA’s quarterfinal matchup will be against Team Canada, the winner of Group A, on March 13 at Daikin Park at 8pm ET.

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