The Italian national team confirmed its paternity over Mexico on Wednesday by defeating them 9-1 to qualify as group B leader for the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.
It was the Italians’ third victory over the Mexicans in three appearances in the competition.
Pasquantino makes history with three home runs
Italy’s fourth hitter, Vinnie Pasquantino, became the first batter with three home runs in a World Classic game to lead the Italians’ attack against Mexico.
Italy overcame an opponent that was poor on offense, lousy in pitching and hesitant on defense.
In the second inning, Italy took a 1-0 lead on Pasquantino’s home run and in the fourth added another run when Jon Berti knocked the ball out of the park.
The Europeans’ offense exploded in the fifth, in which they put together a three-strikeout cluster:
Two produced by Jakob Marsee’s single, and in the sixth, they scored their sixth run, with Pasquantino’s second home run.
Thomas’ mistake and Italian offense sentences
An error by right fielder Alek Thomas opened the doors to home for the Italians in the seventh act, in the bottom half of which Mexico failed at the right time in this World Baseball Classic:
He had bases loaded with no outs but scored just once on a Thomas grounder.
Pasquantino took the ball out of Houston’s Daikin Park in the eighth.
The pummeling continued with Zach Dezenzo’s single and Andrew Fischer’s two-run double to make it 9-1.
Mexico, semifinalists in the last Classic, left the bases loaded in the eighth inning to confirm its dismal performance.
Aaron Nola dominates from the mound
Italia overwhelmed Mexico
QuéOnnda.com
This game of the World Baseball Classic was won by Italy’s starter Aaron Nola, who posted five shutouts with four hits allowed and five strikeouts, while Javier Assad lost for Mexico.
Italy, who beat the United States 8-6 a day earlier, advanced to the round of eight with four wins in four outings in Group B.
Followed by the United States (3-1), Mexico (2-2), Great Britain (1-3) and Brazil (0-4).
In the quarterfinals, Italy will face Puerto Rico, second in Group A, while the United States will face Canada, leader of that group after eliminating Cuba.
With information from EFE
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