Mexico's baseball team lost 1-9 to Italy in the Group B finale of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, held in Houston, sealing their elimination from the quarterfinals. Italy advanced undefeated with a 4-0 record, while the United States qualified as the group's second place with 3-1. Vinnie Pasquantino shone with three home runs in the game.
The Wednesday, March 11, 2026, matchup at Daikin Park in Houston determined Group B's fate. Mexico, with a prior 2-1 record, needed to beat Italy to force a three-way tie with the United States and Italy, all potentially at 3-1, triggering tiebreakers based on runs allowed per defensive outs. However, Italy's offense took control early.
Vinnie Pasquantino led off the second inning with a solo home run, followed by Jon Berti's in the fourth. In the fifth, Italy added three more runs, including a sacrifice bunt by Dante Nori and a single by J.J. D’Orazio. Pasquantino hit his second homer in the sixth and third in the eighth, becoming the first player in World Baseball Classic history to hit three home runs in one game. Andrew Fischer added a run-scoring double in the eighth, finalizing the 9-1 score.
On the mound, Aaron Nola pitched five scoreless innings for Italy, allowing four hits and five strikeouts, earning the win. Mexican starter Javier Assad took the loss after surrendering early runs. Mexico had chances, like bases loaded in the seventh with no outs, but scored only once on Alek Thomas's groundout.
With the win, Italy topped the group and will face Puerto Rico in the quarterfinals on Saturday, March 14, in Houston. The United States, aided by the result after their prior 8-6 loss to Italy, advances against Canada on Friday, March 13, at the same venue. Mexico finished 2-2, a setback after reaching the semifinals in 2023.
