In a spectacular display of power hitting, Vinnie Pasquantino delivered the first three-home-run game in World Baseball Classic history, catapulting Italy to a decisive 9-1 victory over Mexico on Wednesday night. This monumental performance secured Italy’s Pool B championship while simultaneously advancing the United States to the quarterfinals as the group’s runner-up.
The Italian victory resolved a day of uncertainty for Team USA, which found itself relying on other results after suffering an 8-6 defeat to Italy just 24 hours earlier. Pasquantino, who began the tournament mired in an 0-for-12 slump, dramatically reversed his fortunes with solo shots in the second, sixth, and eighth innings. His historic achievement was complemented by Jon Berti’s earlier home run, establishing an early commanding lead for the Italian squad.
Italy’s flawless 4-0 record in pool play represents an unprecedented achievement for European teams in the tournament’s history. The team’s distinctive celebration ritual—espresso shots from the dugout machine following each home run—added cultural flair to their dominant performance.
The victory carries significant implications for the tournament bracket. Italy will face Puerto Rico in Saturday’s quarterfinal matchup in Houston, while the United States prepares to confront Canada, which secured its historic first advancement past the preliminary round with a 7-2 victory over Cuba. Mexico’s elimination carries additional consequences, as the loss disqualifies them from automatic qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—a particular disappointment for a team that finished third in the 2023 WBC.
In other tournament action, the Dominican Republic completed an undefeated run through Pool D with a 7-5 victory over Venezuela. The game featured offensive fireworks from the Dominican Republic’s star-studded lineup, with Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. all contributing home runs in the victory.