HOUSTON (Mar. 11) \u2014 You all know about Mr. October \u2014 now meet Mr. March. Vinnie Pasquantino<\/a><\/strong> belted three homers \u2014 the first three\u2011homer game in World Baseball Classic history \u2014 to lead Italy<\/a> to a commanding 9\u20131 victory over Mexico<\/a> Wednesday night. When asked afterward about the nickname, Pasquantino graciously laughed it off: \u201cMr. March? No, no\u2026 It\u2019s just a good night. That\u2019s it. This will be forgotten very soon. But anytime you can just say Reggie Jackson<\/a><\/strong>\u2019s name to me is cool.\u201d<\/p>\n The victory wins Pool B for Italy \u2014 sending them to the quarterfinals \u2014 and sends Mexico home. It also puts the United States<\/a> in the quarterfinals as the Pool B runners\u2011up.<\/p>\n Italy struck first when Pasquantino \u2014 the spiritual leader and chief recruiter of the team \u2014 deposited a front\u2011row homer to right. It led off the second inning and briefly quieted the largely pro\u2011Mexico crowd. The score became 2\u20130 in the fourth on a Jon Berti<\/a><\/strong> homer to the Crawford Boxes in left\u2011center, tucked into the front\u2011right corner.<\/p>\n Italy gained breathing room in the fifth. With runners on the corners and one out, Dante Nori<\/a><\/strong> laid down a bunt. The pitcher threw home, and the runner was safe, making the score 3\u20130 on what was ruled a sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning, a two\u2011run single made it 5\u20130. Jakob Marsee<\/strong><\/a> took too big a turn around first and got back\u2011picked, stopping the bleeding for Mexico, but the damage was done.<\/p>\n Pasquantino made it 6\u20130 in the top of the sixth on his second solo dinger of the game. It became 7\u20130 in the seventh, when a Jon Berti single to center \u2014 combined with an Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong> fielding error \u2014 scored Sam Antonacci<\/a><\/strong> from first.<\/p>\n Thomas atoned for his error in the bottom of the seventh with a bases\u2011loaded RBI groundout to first unassisted, making the score 7\u20131. But Pasquantino\u2019s third homer of the game, followed by an Andrew Fischer<\/a><\/strong> RBI double, extended Italy\u2019s lead to 9\u20131 in the top of the eighth.<\/p>\n This was Italy\u2019s night. Unlike the United States game Tuesday night, Italy\u2019s relief corps pitched out of one jam after another. They did not let Mexico even start to rally, making the seventh\u2011inning run become a consolation run. The biggest threat after the seventh came in the eighth, when Mexico loaded the bases against Adam Ottavino<\/a><\/strong> on two walks and a hit batsman. But Gabriele Quattrini<\/a><\/strong> got Julian Ornelas<\/a><\/strong> on an inning\u2011ending fly to right, squelching the rally.<\/p>\n The ninth saw Mexico get one baserunner against Quattrini after a one\u2011out hit batsman. But Jarren Duran<\/a><\/strong> grounded to second before Randy Arozarena<\/a><\/strong> grounded to third, stamping Italy\u2019s passport to the quarterfinals and giving Mexico an early exit.<\/p>\nItaly \u2013 Mexico Game Summary<\/h3>\n
No Fiesta Esta Noche<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for Italy<\/h3>\n