HOUSTON (Mar. 14) \u2014 Italy<\/a> has arrived \u2014 and their 8\u20136 win over Puerto Rico<\/a> in Saturday\u2019s World Baseball Classic quarterfinals proved it.<\/p>\n Italy stole five bases, walked eight times, and cracked eight hits in the victory. They head to the semifinals in Miami \u2014 the deepest run by Italy in the history of the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n Puerto Rico jumped ahead immediately, as Willi Castro<\/a><\/strong> opened the game with a leadoff homer into the Crawford Boxes for a 1\u20130 lead. Italy answered forcefully in the bottom half. Three straight RBI singles \u2014 from Vinnie Pasquantino<\/a><\/strong>, Dominic Canzone<\/a><\/strong>, and Jac Caglianone<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 flipped the score to 3\u20131 and knocked starter Seth Lugo<\/a><\/strong> out after only one out. J.J. D\u2019Orazio added a bases\u2011loaded sacrifice fly to make it 4\u20131 before Puerto Rico finally escaped the inning, stranding two more. Puerto Rico got one run back in the top of the second when Martin Maldonado<\/a><\/strong> was plunked with the bases loaded.<\/p>\n The score stayed 4\u20132 until the bottom of the fourth, when Italy mounted another two\u2011out rally. Three consecutive walks loaded the bases for Andrew Fischer<\/a><\/strong>, who drove a deep ball to right. A fan reached over the fence and below the yellow line to catch it, turning it into a ground\u2011rule double by rule and advancing all runners two bases. D\u2019Orazio followed with another ground\u2011rule double \u2014 this one bouncing out of play \u2014 to push the lead to 8\u20132.<\/p>\n A bases-loaded force play (3\u20136) by Eddie Rosario<\/a><\/strong> brought in a run for Puerto Rico in the top of the eighth. A hit batsman and wild pitch brought in another run and put runners on second and third. Christian Vazquez<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 that hitter \u2014 ultimately singled, making the score 8\u20136 in favor of Italy and getting the raucous crowd fired up.<\/p>\n But Italy manager Francisco Cervelli<\/a><\/strong>, as strategic with when<\/em> his pitching changes happen as he is with whom he brings in<\/em>, had another trick up his sleeve. In trotted fireman Greg Weissert<\/a><\/strong>. A strikeout of Castro, single by Hernaiz, and groundout to third by Arenado stopped the bleeding and preserved the 8\u20136 lead.<\/p>\n Italy left two runners in scoring position in the top of the ninth against Edwin Diaz<\/a><\/strong>. But it ultimately did not matter, as Weissert pitched around a leadoff single by Carlos Cortes<\/a><\/strong>. A strikeout and two outfield flyouts later, Italy secured the victory and a trip to Miami for the semifinals.<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s offense pounced on Puerto Rico starter Seth Lugo and the rest of the team\u2019s early pitching struggles. Three straight RBI singles in the first inning flipped the game immediately. The fourth inning\u2019s two\u2011out surge \u2014 fueled by three walks and back\u2011to\u2011back ground\u2011rule doubles \u2014 showed a lineup that refused to let chances slip away. \u201cThe plan was to attack Lugo because we knew they had four lefties,\u201d Cervelli said. \u201cWe also have a bunch of lefties. So the guys followed the plan the way they should.\u201d<\/p>\n Italy\u2019s awareness on the bases put them into position to take advantage of any mistake Puerto Rico might make. They took extra bases aggressively but selectively, going first-to-third when possible. Vinnie Pasquantino, of all people, stole two bases. \u201cEspresso makes me run fast. Sometimes you get a read,\u201d Pasquantino said, referring to the team using espresso to celebrate in the dugout. He later added with a sly smile, \u201cI\u2019ve never been thrown out.\u201d<\/p>\n After Puerto Rico cut the lead to 8\u20136 in the eighth, Greg Weissert delivered exactly what Italy needed: a strikeout, a single allowed, and a groundout to halt the rally. \u201cHe’s the guy,\u201d Cervelli said of Weissert, \u201cbecause he played at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park. He played against Toronto. So that’s the guy. He knows what a hostile environment is. He knows. And he was the guy.\u201d Pasquantino added, \u201cThat was awesome. The guy shows like no emotion and you need that from some guys. I mean, the place was going nuts today.\u201d He later added, \u201cTeam Puerto Rico fans showed out, and it was awesome. It was getting real loud in there. Greg being able to come in, slam the door.\u201d Fischer agreed, saying, \u201c(Greg) showed a ton of poise out there.\u201d<\/p>\n Willi Castro\u2019s leadoff homer into the Crawford Boxes put Puerto Rico ahead before many fans had settled in. It didn\u2019t rattle Italy, but it did force them to play from behind before even taking their first at-bat.<\/p>\n Despite scoring eight runs, Italy left several chances on the table. They stranded two in the first, two more in the fourth, and couldn\u2019t cash in during the ninth against Diaz. Those missed chances nearly loomed large when Puerto Rico mounted its eighth\u2011inning surge and had a runner reach in the ninth.<\/p>\n A four-run eighth inning let Puerto Rico back in the game. A hit batsman, a wild pitch, and a run\u2011scoring single tightened the score to 8\u20136 and ignited the crowd.<\/p>\n Puerto Rico set the tone early with Castro\u2019s leadoff homer, a jolt that energized their dugout and the large contingent of fans behind them.<\/p>\n Down 8\u20132, Puerto Rico refused to fold. Their eighth\u2011inning rally \u2014 a force play, a hit batsman, a wild pitch, and a clutch single by Christian Vazquez \u2014 brought the tying run to the plate and reignited the ballpark.<\/p>\n The first and fourth innings were the difference in the game. Lugo recorded only one out before being chased, and the fourth\u2011inning walks set up Fischer and D\u2019Orazio to break it open.<\/p>\n Seven walks \u2014 including three in a row in the fourth \u2014 repeatedly put Italy in scoring position.<\/p>\n Puerto Rico had the tying run at the plate in the eighth and ninth but couldn\u2019t deliver the final blow. Weissert\u2019s entrance stopped their best rally cold, and the ninth\u2011inning leadoff single didn\u2019t lead to anything more.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a very emotional game\u2026 It hurts, and obviously I would have wanted us to win the game and gone on to the next round. But again, I’m very proud of the guys. We fought to the end, and we want to give credit to Italy.\u201d \u2014 Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina<\/a><\/strong> on how he and his team felt after the game.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cImagine doing this for the first time and arrive to the semifinal. It’s amazing. This is great. This is one of the best chapters of my life.\u201d \u2014 Italy manager Francisco Cervelli on Italy reaching the semifinals undefeated.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNo, I guess the simple answer to your question, no, but I’m so happy about this group.\u201d \u2014 Italy first baseman and captain Vinnie Pasquantino on whether he ever imagined the team would build this level of chemistry so quickly.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cShout out to Francisco for keeping him in there. That takes some stones to leave a guy in there. I’m sure Boston will be calling about that. The other teams are dealing with teams calling us too.\u201d \u2014 Italy first baseman and captain Vinnie Pasquantino on manager Francisco Cervelli\u2019s decision to leave Greg Weissert in to pitch the ninth.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI think, as a young guy, our team chemistry has come along so fast. That started with Vinnie. \u2026 Props to Vinnie for setting the tone for the team.\u201d \u2014 Italy third baseman Andrew Fischer on what he wished more people understood about the Italy team.<\/em><\/p>\nItaly \u2013 Puerto Rico Game Summary<\/h3>\n
Puerto Rico Makes It Interesting<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for Italy<\/h3>\n
Punished Mistakes<\/h4>\n
Smart Baserunning<\/h4>\n
Greg Weissert Saves the Day<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for Italy<\/h3>\n
Fell Behind Early<\/h4>\n
Missed Opportunities to Put Game Away<\/h4>\n
The Eighth Inning<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for Puerto Rico<\/h3>\n
Scored Immediately<\/h4>\n
Made Valiant Comeback<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for Puerto Rico<\/h3>\n
Gave Up Two Big Innings<\/h4>\n
Allowed Lots of Walks<\/h4>\n
Couldn\u2019t Finish the Comeback<\/h4>\n
Quotes<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n