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

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

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

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

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Team USA knew they would be big fans of Italy, one of the more surprising teams in the tournament so far, but it was a thrill to watch. They have the fun espresso home run party that has been used a lot, including Tuesday night’s game, and a mix of veterans and top prospects who have given their pool passes to the field.

However, Vinnie Pasquantino, the team captain who stars for the Kansas City Royals, came into this contest without a single hit through three games. Fortunately for Italy – and indirectly the USA – his first three hits of the tournament were the difference.

Pasquantino had three solo home runs in the win, marking the first time in WBC history that a player went yard three times in a single game.

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He got 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 stayed fair down the right field line to take a free ride around the bases again.

When he stepped to the plate in the top of the eighth inning, Pasquantino, already two espresso shots deep after his first two longballs, got just enough to get it over right field 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 the other three games, there wasn’t just one Italian striker showing his power. Jon Berti, who has been having a great tournament so far, took advantage of the Crawford boxes in left field and hit one just 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 hurler Aaron Nola, the reliable Philadelphia Phillies starter who had his patented knuckle curve in Houston. He threw five innings and allowed just four hits while striking out five over 69 pitches.

The game also began to get away from Mexico in the top of the fifth inning when nine-hitter Dante Nori dropped a perfect sacrifice bunt that scored Pasquantino’s Royals teammate Jac Caglianone to make it a 3-0 game. Then Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee came through in the clutch with a two-out, bases-loaded single that scored two runners before being picked off 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’ groundout to first and Rowdy Tellez hit a liner just off Pasquantino for the second out, Jarren Duran struck out as they were only able to 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 returned the momentum to Team Italy and they carried it into the final frame where they secured the win.

While Italy soars into the quarterfinals, Mexico is eliminated as their players will head back to their respective major league camps to finish spring training.

Team USA’s quarterfinal match will be against Team Canada, the winners of Pool A, at 8:00 PM ET at Daikin Park on March 13th.