Well, the United States is moving on after all.
Italy after jumping up big early, rolled to a dominant 9-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday night at Daikin Park in Houston. That ensured that the United States will get into the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic after its stunning loss to Italy on Tuesday.
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Had Mexico beaten Italy in a low-scoring game, or rallied for a wild extra-innings thriller, it would have been much more complicated for the United States to find a way into the next round.
Since Italy grabbed the Pool B victory and the United States made it through to the next round, the Americans will take on Canada in their quarterfinal matchup. Canada beat Cuba earlier Wednesday to finish 3-1 and win Pool A. Italy will get Puerto Rico in the next round.
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Vinnie Pasquantino hit a solo home run to put Italy up early in the second inning, though the ball just barely made it past the glove of Mexican right fielder Jarren Duran.
Jon Berti then doubled that lead in the fourth inning with a deep shot over the left-field wall.
Although Mexico swapped pitchers in the fifth after Javier Assad ended his day with five strikeouts, the Italians quickly added another run when a perfect bunt scored Jac Caglianone.
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Then it was Jakob Marsee who hit a two-run single that gave Italy the 5-0 lead the United States needed to see.
Pasquantino, for good measure, hit two more more home runs the rest of the way for good measure to get to three on the night. Berti drove in a run in the seventh, too.
Eventually, Italy cruised to the eight-run win and closed out Mexico for good. Mexico did add a run in the seventh, so it wasn’t shut out completely, but the rally simply came too late.
Italy jumped to an 8-0 lead over Team USA on Tuesday and then held on for an 8-6 win to take the lead in Pool B. But thanks to their six late runs, the Americans still had a shot to advance. They just had to sweat it out in Houston.
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Even though they almost let their shot get away, Team USA is still alive in the World Baseball Classic.