March 12 (UPI) — Vinnie Pasquantino homered a record three times to lead undefeated Italy past Mexico in a pool play finale of the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday in Houston.
The Kansas City Royals first baseman/designated hitter entered the night 0 for 12 in the tournament, without a three home run game in his baseball career, including in Little League. He is now the only player in history to accomplish the feat in the World Baseball Classic.
With the 9-1 victory, Italy remained perfect (4-0) while also helping Team USA (3-1) clinch another quarterfinal spot as the second-best team in Pool B. The Mexicans (2-2) were eliminated from the tournament.
“The job is not done yet,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said on the FS1 broadcast from Daikin Park. “We’ve got to get to Miami [for the semifinals and final].
“I need to experience that.”
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola allowed four hits over five shutout innings for the Italians. Pasquantino homered in the second, sixth and eighth innings.
The Italian captain, who came up with the idea to celebrate each of the team’s homers with dugout espresso shots, went 3 for 4 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
“It’s just a good night, that’s it,” Pasquantino told reporters at his postgame news conference. “This will be forgotten very soon. … It’s special. I wasn’t really thinking about it.”
Second baseman Jon Berti went 2 for 3 with a solo homer. Miami Marlins outfielder Jakob Marsee, Andrew Fischer and Dante Nori also drove in runs for the Italians.
Pasquantino opened the scoring with a 342-foot solo homer off the first pitch of the second inning. Berti hit another leadoff shot with a 349-foot solo homer in the fourth. Nori made the score 3-0 with a sacrifice bunt. Marsee clubbed a two-run single three at-bats later.
Pasquantino pelted a 349-foot solo homer to lead off the sixth. Berti gave the Italians a 7-0 lead with an RBI single in the seventh. Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas drove in Mexico’s lone run with an RBI ground out in the bottom of the same inning.
Pasquantino finished his home run hat trick with a 337-foot blast to right field in the eighth. Fischer doubled in the game’s final run three at-bats later.
No Mexican players recorded more than one hit in the loss. Starter Javier Assad allowed four hits and four runs over 4 1/3 innings.
Canada beat Cuba 7-2 on Wednesday in San Juan, Puerto Rico to advance out of Pool A. The Dominican Republic edged Venezuela 7-5 on Wednesday in Miami to remain a perfect 4-0 and advance out of Pool D.
Japan, the only other undefeated (4-0) team, and Korea (2-2) advanced out of Pool C.
Italy will take on Canada in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal at 3 p.m. EDT Saturday in Houston. The winner will face Venezuela or Japan in a semifinal on Monday in Miami.
Team USA will battle Canada in another quarterfinal at 8 p.m. Friday in Houston. The winner will meet Korea or the Dominican Republic in another semifinal on Sunday in Miami.
The World Baseball Classic will be held on Tuesday in Miami.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (C) celebrates with teammates after the Dodgers defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 11 innings in Game 7 to win the World Series in Toronto on November 1, 2025. Photo by Aaron Josefczyk/UPI | License Photo
