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 its World Baseball Classic hopes in limbo, after its victory over Team Mexico on Tuesday night.

With Italy’s 9-1 victory at Daikin Park, they won Pool B with a perfect 4-0 record and earned a place in the WBC quarterfinals.

But Italy also ensured that Team USA’s run in the tournament continued despite a shocking 8-6 loss to the all-star group Monday night.

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Vinnie Pasquantino of Italy hits a solo home run in the 6th 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 that heading into this match they would be big fans of Italy, one of the more surprising teams in the tournament so far, but exciting to watch. They have a fun espresso home run celebration, which was widely used, including Tuesday night’s game, and a mix of veterans and top prospects who gave it their all on the field.

However, Vinnie Pasquantino, the team captain who plays for the Kansas City Royals, entered this competition without a single hit in three games. Fortunately for Italy – and indirectly for the United States – its first three wins 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 for three yards in a single game.

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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 fired a towering shot that stayed just down the right field line to once again circle the bases free.

As he stepped up to the plate in the top of the eighth inning, Pasquantino, already two shots deep after his first two long balls, got just 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, as in the other three matches, there was not just one Italian hitter who demonstrated his power. Jon Berti, who has had a great tournament so far, used Crawford’s boxes in left field, hitting just far enough in the top of the fourth inning to extend Italy’s lead to 2-0.

Meanwhile, Mexico failed to make the at-bats work against veteran pitcher Aaron Nola, the reliable Philadelphia Phillies starter who made his patented knuckle curve work in Houston. He pitched five innings, allowing just four hits while striking out five on 69 pitches.

The game also began to slip away from Mexico in the top of the fifth inning, when nine-hitter Dante Nori dropped a perfect sacrifice fly that scored Pasquantino’s Royals teammate Jac Caglianone to make it 3-0. Then Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee came up with a two-out loaded single that scored two runners before being grounded out 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 hit a liner right on Pasquantino for the second out, Jarren Duran struck out as they were only able to get one run in 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)

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Pasquantino’s third home run gave Team Italy the momentum again, and they rode it 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 big league camps to finish spring training.

Team USA’s quarterfinal matchup will take on Team Canada, winners of Pool A, at 8 p.m. ET at Daikin Park on March 13.

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