WBC Special!: Italy Goes 4–0, Pasquantino’s Historic Night Sends Mexico Home, Team USA Advances | 151

Welcome to Episode 151 of Tablesetters, where we cover everything happening across the world of baseball.

Tonight’s WBC special focuses on the dramatic end of pool play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where Italy finished a perfect 4–0 in Pool B, Mexico was eliminated, and Team USA advanced to the knockout stage as the quarterfinal bracket was finally set.

Italy clinched the group with a 9–1 victory over Mexico in Houston, powered by a historic performance from captain Vinnie Pasquantino. Entering the game without a hit in the tournament, Pasquantino delivered the first three-home-run game in World Baseball Classic history, homering in the second, sixth, and eighth innings to turn a tight game into a runaway.

Italy’s lineup added to the momentum when Jon Berti homered in the fourth, and a fifth-inning rally widened the gap as Dante Nori executed a bunt that brought home a run before Jakob Marsee followed with a two-run single.

On the mound, Aaron Nola gave Italy exactly the start it needed, throwing five innings while allowing four hits and striking out five, keeping Mexico from ever building sustained pressure.

The result finalized the Pool B standings with Italy at 4–0, the United States at 3–1, and Mexico eliminated at 2–2.

For Team USA, the path through the group included strong offensive production — the Americans scored 35 runs in four games — with contributions from hitters like Aaron Judge, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Roman Anthony, allowing them to advance as the runner-up behind Italy.

Now the tournament shifts to the stage where none of the pool-play math matters anymore.

The quarterfinals begin in Houston when Team USA faces Canada, while Italy meets Puerto Rico in the second matchup. On the other side of the bracket, Japan faces Venezuela and Dominican Republic meets South Korea, with the semifinals and championship set for Miami at loanDepot Park.

From here, the format becomes brutally simple.

Eight teams remain, and every game is win or go home.

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