US gets the help it needs from
Italy and advances to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals
[March 12, 2026]
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
HOUSTON (AP) — A day later than its manager originally proclaimed,
the United States punched its ticket to the quarterfinals of the
World Baseball Classic.
The Americans got the help they needed from Italy and could start to
relax by the middle innings as Italy routed Mexico 9-1 on Wednesday
night, giving the Azzurri the top spot in Group B and assuring the
Americans advancement as the second-place team.
After Vinnie Pasquantino had the WBC’s first three-homer game to
lead the Italians to victory, the Kansas City Royals player had a
message for the Americans.
“You’re welcome, U.S.A.,” he said. “We were thinking of you guys
over at your hotel. We were thinking of you guys. So I’m glad you
could join us in the party.”
Italy beat the U.S. 8-6 a night earlier, turning the Americans into
spectators as they hoped to avoid elimination. The Italians —
fielding a roster stacked with Americans of Italian heritage —
finished 4-0 while the U.S. went 3-1.
Mexico (2-2), which lost to the U.S., was eliminated from the WBC
and from qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Americans will stay in Houston to meet Canada, which advanced
past first round for the first time, on Friday night. Italy will
play Puerto Rico in the other quarterfinal at Daikin Park on
Saturday.
The U.S., with an All-Star-filled roster, also beat Britain and
Brazil in group play.
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United States shortstop Gunnar Henderson (11) celebrates after
hitting a home run in the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic
game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
After the loss to Italy, U.S. manager Mark DeRosa
fielded questions about whether he thought his team had already
secured a spot in the quarterfinals with Monday night’s win over
Mexico because of his comments on a television appearance the next
morning.
In that interview, he said: “Ton of respect for Italy — it’s weird —
we want to win this game even though our ticket’s punched to the
quarterfinals because Mexico plays Italy actually tomorrow. So, the
way the schedule lines up this is an important game for us.”
DeRosa said he “misspoke” in that interview and did not believe the
team had already clinched a spot.
Now that the Americans are in the quarterfinals, they know they need
to win to move on to Miami.
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