Upstart Italy knocks Mexico out of World Baseball Classic . . . and the Olympics

Mexico had a accidental to avenge its nonaccomplishment to Team USA and sound the Stars-and-Stripes retired of the World Baseball Classic connected Wednesday erstwhile it took connected Italy successful its group-stage finale astatine Houston’s Daikin Park.

All manager Benji Gil’s squad had to bash was decision the upstart Italians, who had stunned the favored Americans a nighttime earlier.

But the unheralded European 9 were not suffering a hangover aft shocking the shot beingness with its 8-6 triumph implicit the U.S. connected Tuesday.

Instead, Kansas City Royals archetypal baseman Vinnie Pasquantino slugged 3 homers — a WBC single-game record — and six Italian hurlers silenced Mexico’s bats successful a 9-1 rout, sending El Tri packing.

As a result, Mexico was eliminated successful the archetypal circular of the WBC for the 3rd clip successful the past 4 tournaments. The nonaccomplishment besides ended the team’s chances of participating successful the 2028 Olympics, since not capable opportunities stay to conscionable the qualifying requirements and lone the United States is considered a big federation for baseball.

The Mexican nine started beardown this year, defeating Great Britain 8-2 past routing Brazil 16-0 to presumption itself successful archetypal spot successful Pool B.

But a 5-3 nonaccomplishment to Team USA connected Monday near Mexico needing a triumph against Italy. However, starting pitcher Javier Assad (Chicago Cubs) came up wanting and aft Pasquantino clubbed a round-tripper to pb disconnected the 2nd inning, Italy ne'er looked back.

Mexico struggled to fig retired Philadelphia Phillies ace Aaron Nola, who struck retired 5 successful 5 innings of work. By the clip St. Louis Cardinals reliever Gordon Graceffo took implicit for Nola successful the sixth inning, Mexico trailed 6-0.

Mexico managed conscionable 1 deed implicit the last 4 innings, portion Italy added 3 much runs to cruise to triumph and assertion the apical spot successful Pool B. 

The team’s lone tally came successful the bottommost of the seventh when, trailing 7-0, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alex Thomas came up to bat with the bases loaded and cipher out.

Vinnie Pasquantino — No. 9 connected the Italian squad — blew Mexico retired of the h2o with 3 location runs. (Liga Mexicana de Beisbol)

Thomas was fooled connected a breaking pitch, managing conscionable a dilatory bouncer to archetypal basal that plated Joey Meneses and moved the different runners up a base. But the imaginable rally was snuffed retired arsenic Rowdy Téllez lined retired to archetypal and Jarren Duran struck out, ending the threat.

The result allowed Team USA to decorativeness successful 2nd spot and beforehand to the quarterfinals alongside Italy.

Italy has present defeated Mexico each 3 times they’ve faced each different successful WBC play.

With reports from ESPN, La Afición, USA Today and Al Bat