Italy 9, Mexico 1
HOUSTON (Mar. 11) — You all know about Mr. October — now meet Mr. March. Vinnie Pasquantino belted three homers — the first three‑homer game in World Baseball Classic history — to lead Italy to a commanding 9–1 victory over Mexico Wednesday night. When asked afterward about the nickname, Pasquantino graciously laughed it off: “Mr. March? No, no… It’s just a good night. That’s it. This will be forgotten very soon. But anytime you can just say Reggie Jackson’s name to me is cool.”
The victory wins Pool B for Italy — sending them to the quarterfinals — and sends Mexico home. It also puts the United States in the quarterfinals as the Pool B runners‑up.
Italy – Mexico Game Summary
Italy struck first when Pasquantino — the spiritual leader and chief recruiter of the team — deposited a front‑row homer to right. It led off the second inning and briefly quieted the largely pro‑Mexico crowd. The score became 2–0 in the fourth on a Jon Berti homer to the Crawford Boxes in left‑center, tucked into the front‑right corner.
Italy gained breathing room in the fifth. With runners on the corners and one out, Dante Nori laid down a bunt. The pitcher threw home, and the runner was safe, making the score 3–0 on what was ruled a sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning, a two‑run single made it 5–0. Jakob Marsee took too big a turn around first and got back‑picked, stopping the bleeding for Mexico, but the damage was done.
Pasquantino made it 6–0 in the top of the sixth on his second solo dinger of the game. It became 7–0 in the seventh, when a Jon Berti single to center — combined with an Alek Thomas fielding error — scored Sam Antonacci from first.
Thomas atoned for his error in the bottom of the seventh with a bases‑loaded RBI groundout to first unassisted, making the score 7–1. But Pasquantino’s third homer of the game, followed by an Andrew Fischer RBI double, extended Italy’s lead to 9–1 in the top of the eighth.
No Fiesta Esta Noche
This was Italy’s night. Unlike the United States game Tuesday night, Italy’s relief corps pitched out of one jam after another. They did not let Mexico even start to rally, making the seventh‑inning run become a consolation run. The biggest threat after the seventh came in the eighth, when Mexico loaded the bases against Adam Ottavino on two walks and a hit batsman. But Gabriele Quattrini got Julian Ornelas on an inning‑ending fly to right, squelching the rally.
The ninth saw Mexico get one baserunner against Quattrini after a one‑out hit batsman. But Jarren Duran grounded to second before Randy Arozarena grounded to third, stamping Italy’s passport to the quarterfinals and giving Mexico an early exit.
What Went Right for Italy
History for Vinnie
Pasquantino didn’t only set the tone — he rewrote the record book. His three solo homers marked the first three‑homer game in World Baseball Classic history, each arriving at a moment when Italy needed a spark. The first quieted a pro‑Mexico crowd early, the second stretched the lead to 6–0, and the third extinguished any hope of a late Mexico push. Mexico manager Benji Gil put it plainly afterward: “Vinnie Pasquantino is the first player in this tournament to have three home runs in one game. And he did that against really good pitchers… So what can you do?”
Italy manager Francisco Cervelli echoed that sentiment from the Italian dugout: “Three home runs means you’re one of the best batters in the league… he’s a leader. He’s like the soul of the team.” Italy starting pitcher Aaron Nola added his own perspective: “What a game he had today with the three homers — you don’t see that too much.”
After Pasquantino deflected the “Mr. March” postgame praise with his usual mix of humor and humility, he offered the most revealing moment of his night — not about the home runs, but about taking a pitch. “Honestly, I was really happy with the 2–2 take I had that at‑bat. I had been chasing quite a bit to the point I wanted to just cry… And I took that pitch. I think I was about as happy as I could be.”
The Baseball Hall of Fame contacted Pasquantino after the game. “It’s the first time they’ve ever reached out for something of mine,” he said, still processing the magnitude of the night.
Offense Never Let Up
Italy’s lineup applied pressure in every inning that mattered. Jon Berti’s homer to the Crawford Boxes made it 2–0, and the fifth inning became the turning point: a perfectly executed Dante Nori bunt, a safe slide at the plate, and a two‑run single that pushed the lead to 5–0. Even when Mexico momentarily stopped the surge with a backpick, Italy’s offense had already seized control. Nola summed it up with, “We played really well tonight, and we did the little things right. That’s why we took the win.”
Lights-Out Pitching
Italy’s pitching staff delivered the opposite of the previous night’s roller coaster. Aaron Nola set the tone early, working efficiently and keeping Mexico off balance from the first inning on. He explained the approach simply: “I got ahead pretty well… The fastball had a little jump to it early on… My curveball felt pretty sharp… I feel like I found the zone pretty well.”
The relief group repeatedly escaped traffic. The eighth inning — bases loaded, one out — was the defining moment. Ottavino faltered, but Quattrini induced a flyout to right to end the threat and preserve the 9–1 lead.
Controlled Emotional Tempo
This was a poised, veteran performance. Italy never let the crowd dictate momentum, never let Mexico’s baserunners snowball into rallies, and never lost the sense of calm Cervelli has preached since camp. Even the lone Mexico run — a seventh‑inning RBI groundout — didn’t shake them. They played with the emotional discipline of a team expecting to advance. Gil saw the same thing from across the field: “They played very clean defense… their players ran and they played hard. We just couldn’t. It was their night.”
Cervelli explained the approach in detail — especially the bullpen’s role: “Today we were short on pitchers, very short… When everything started getting a little loud, those guys came, got the outs, and shut it down. That was the key today.”
That poise wasn’t accidental. It was identity. As Cervelli put it: “We need to establish an identity with the Italian squad… it’s always attack, attack, attack.” Pasquantino described the emotional side of that identity: “I’m weirdly emotional tonight, to the point I’m thinking about crying… I’m just honored… (The Italian baseball leadership) has given me the freedom to try to get the best out of my teammates.”
What Went Wrong for Italy
Got into Several Jams
Italy’s only real blemish was the number of baserunners they allowed. The seventh and eighth innings both saw Mexico load the bases, and the eighth required a pitching change to escape.
What Went Right for Mexico
Didn’t Go Quietly
Even down 7–0, Mexico continued to grind out at‑bats. Alek Thomas’s RBI groundout in the seventh prevented a shutout. They loaded the bases in the eighth, and they got a runner on in the ninth. They forced Italy to make pitches under pressure, even if the rallies never materialized.
Avoided the Run Rule
In a game where momentum was entirely against them, Mexico made Italy play the full game. Their defense — including the back‑pick of Jakob Marsee — prevented the game from spiraling into a mercy‑rule scenario.
What Went Wrong for Mexico
Pitching Unraveled
Italy’s offense didn’t only score — they dictated every inning. Mexico’s pitchers surrendered 10 hits. They allowed traffic in nearly every frame. Not only could they not keep Pasquantino in the yard, but they coughed up a homer to Berti as well.
Missed Key Chances
Mexico had multiple innings with runners aboard and couldn’t convert. Their best chance — bases loaded in the eighth — ended with a routine flyout to right. The inability to string hits together kept them from climbing out of their early hole.
Quotes
- “I’ve never been more stressed in eight‑run games in my life. Shout-out to the city of Houston and for the United States fans, for the Team Mexico fans for showing up the way that they did. I mean, that’s why we do this. That’s why this tournament is so special.” — Vinnie Pasquantino on the loud atmosphere in the Italy-USA and Italy-Mexico games
- “I don’t know how to process it… My emotions are everywhere.” — Francisco Cervelli
- “Everybody’s bought in… Everybody has a lot of energy going into each game.” — Aaron Nola
- “They liked the bat. I said I need the bat for a few more days.” — Vinnie Pasquantino, when asked what the Baseball Hall of Fame requested from him
Quick Hits
The second-inning Pasquantino homer landed in the glove of a Mexico fan. He held it in the basket-catch position, flush against his stomach.
This win for Italy and their advance to the quarterfinals as Pool B winners carries weight beyond the box score. It doesn’t matter that most of the players aren’t from Italy but are Italian Americans. Nola said, “Wearing ‘Italy’ is definitely an honor… It means a lot. It really does.”
Gil closed his press conference by congratulating Italy and Cervelli’s staff, saying they “played a great game” and wishing them “nothing but the best” in the quarterfinals. This response is fully in line with the respect and professionalism he’s shown throughout both WBCs in which he’s managed.
Looking Ahead
Aaron Nola earned the win for Italy as Javier Assad took the loss for Mexico.
Italy has won the group, with the United States coming in second. Both advance to the quarterfinals. Italy will play Saturday against Puerto Rico, and the United States will play Friday against Canada. First pitch Friday will be at 7 pm Central, and first pitch Saturday will come at 2 pm Central.
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