What seemed like a clear path for Puerto Rico ended in a European nightmare. In a tension-filled duel at Minute Maid Park, Italy once again shook the foundations of the World Baseball Classic by defeating the Puerto Ricans 8-6, eliminating one of the great favorites and securing their place in the semifinals for the first time in their history.
The European ninth showed that they were thirsty for revenge against the Puerto Ricans, against whom they had been on a losing streak of more than a decade and two defeats in their only previous World Classic duels.
World Classic: Italy vs Puerto Rico
That’s amore ❤️ pic.twitter.com/aI4kRqIzHG
– World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2026
Italy is thus confirmed as the great surprise in this edition of the World Classic and maintains a perfect pace, including a win against the United States in the group stage.
Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is out of the quarterfinals for the second consecutive time, as it lost to Mexico in 2023.
The good Puerto Rican start through Willie Castro with the first run scored was only a passing illusion, because later Italy unleashed a storm with its effectiveness at bat and turned the score in its favor by 4-1.
In what was also a disappointing performance by Puerto Rican pitcher Seth Lugo, who left the mound only at the end of the first episode.
Puerto Rico had everything to level the game and forced out Italian pitcher Sam Aldegheri in the second inning, as he scored a run and filled the bases, but was unable to score again.
In the fourth episode Italy sealed the game in its favor by scoring four more runs.
With two outs, but runners on base, Jac Canglianone got the pass that filled the house and started another nightmare for Puerto Rico.
Andrew Fischer hit a hit that was marked as a double in the face of interference from a fan, and the next at-bat, on another double, the ball stung and escaped into the stands. The scoreboard was 8-2 in favor of the Europeans.
With no scores in episodes 5, 6 and 7, in the eighth the Puerto Ricans reacted with class and brought the score to 8-6, with 4 runs scored, the most outstanding of which was the one originated by a Nolan Arenado’s hit.
The comfortable Italian lead vanished and it was time for suspense and drama.
But Italy was ready for a surprise in the tournament and won in the last episode, in which they did not make any mistakes and therefore did not allow Puerto Rico any more joy.
Their opponent in the semifinals will be Venezuela, who beat Japan, the defending champion.
Filed under: World Classic Italy Puerto Rico
With information from EFE
