The last day of pool play on the World Baseball Classic is sort of over, and the United States is moving on in any case.
In the primary recreation Wednesday, Canada defeated Cuba 7-2 to advance to the quarterfinals, remove Cuba and surpass Puerto Rico to win Pool A. Owen Caissie and Otto Lopez every drove in two runs in the Canadians’ victory, and on the mound, Cal Quantrill delivered 5 innings of one-run ball.
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After a surprising 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday, the United States wanted Italy to beat Mexico on Wednesday — or have Mexico score no more than four runs in a nine-inning victory — to achieve the quarterfinals. Italy easily handled business and rolled to a dominant 9-1 win behind three residence runs from Vinnie Pasquantino. That ensured that the United States reached the knockout spherical and set up a quarterfinal matchup with Canada. Italy, the winner of Pool B, will get Puerto Rico.
In the ultimate recreation Wednesday, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic battled for Pool D supremacy. Both had been 3-0 and had already clinched their spots in the quarterfinals, however this contest was to determine the pool winner. The Dominican bats did what they do finest — hit residence runs — as lengthy balls from Juan Soto, Ketel Marte, Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tatis Jr. constructed a 7-3 lead by the fourth inning.
The loser of the sport faces Japan in the subsequent spherical, whereas the winner will play Korea.
This 12 months marks the sixth iteration of the worldwide baseball event, with Japan the reigning champion after defeating Team USA 3-2 in the 2023 last. The Americans have taken residence one WBC title, again in 2017, and so they’re searching for a second with a loaded roster that features 22 MLB All-Stars — the most of any roster in the event. Among these representing Team USA are Paul Skenes, Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge, simply to call a couple of of the celebs, with the U.S. entering the tournament as the favorite (-105) over Japan (+350) at BetMGM.
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The quarterfinals will be Friday and Saturday (March 13 and 14), and semifinals will be on Sunday and Monday (March 15 and 16). It all culminates with the WBC last on Tuesday, March 17, at loanDepot Park in Miami.
Games will air across Fox, FS1, FS2 and Fox Deportes, with streaming for all video games obtainable with a Fox One subscription.
Follow together with Yahoo Sports for the most recent information and updates from the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
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Vlad Jr. additionally obtained on base in the highest of the body, however finally the D.R. didn’t rating.
It’s nonetheless 7-3 headed to the underside of the ninth in Miami.
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After all of the early fireworks, each offenses have been saved scoreless and comparatively quiet for the previous 4 innings in Miami.
Fernando Tatis Jr. singled to steer off the highest of the ninth. The D.R. continues to be main 7-3.
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Team Italy has simply completed one thing that Team USA has by no means completed: Finish pool play undefeated.
Italy seals its 4-0 file with a dominant victory over Mexico in Houston. With that consequence, Italy wins Pool B, Team USA is the runner-up, and Mexico is eradicated.
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Ryan Young
Mexico loaded up the bases there in the underside of the eighth, however Ornelas flied out to proper to finish the inning.
Italy will head to the ninth with a 9-1 lead.
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Ryan Young
Well, Mexico’s run doesn’t matter. Pasquantino simply hit his third residence run of the night time to raise Italy to an 8-1 lead now in the eighth. This one is over.
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Ryan Young
Mexico is lastly on the board, and appeared prefer it was threatening extra, however Duran struck out swinging simply now with two on in the seventh after La Sorsa took the mound for the Italians.
Italy’s lead is 7-1 now heading into the eighth, and the Americans’ spot in the quarterfinals continues to be secure.
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Another residence run, this time a three-run blast from Fernando Tatis Jr., will increase the Dominicans’ result in 7-3 in the highest of the fourth.
Elite bat flip, too.
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Venezuela made it 4-3 with RBI doubles from Maikel Garcia and Luis Arraez in the underside of the third.
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Ryan Young
Mexico bobbled the ball in the outfield, and that’s one other run for Italy. It’s 7-0 now in the seventh after Jon Berti will get one other hit. Italy is in full management with just some innings to go.
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Ketel Marte hit a solo blast to make it 3-1 D.R.
Vlad Guerrero Jr. adopted two batters later, and it’s 4-1 in the third.
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Jack Baer
Team USA will attain the knockout rounds, barring some very particular eventualities in further innings. How particular are we speaking about? Well, essentially the most possible path now could be Mexico strolling off Italy 7-6 with at the very least one out in the twelfth inning. In that state of affairs, Mexico and Italy advance.
The U.S. can’t be eradicated if this recreation goes 11 or fewer innings, and extra Italy runs make the likelihood extra distant. The Americans can most likely begin celebrating now,
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Jack Baer
It’s 6-0 Italy after captain Vinnie Pasquantino slugs his second homer of the sport.
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Jack Baer
Italy takes a 5-0 lead on a bases-loaded single from Jakob Marsee and that ensures Team USA will make it to the knockout rounds, barring further innings. Either Italy will win or Mexico will rating at the very least six runs.
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Jack Baer
Juan Soto mashed a house in the primary inning to present his squad a 2-0 lead.
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Jack Baer
Italy brings in one other run on a Dante Nori sacrifice bunt. Mexico pitcher Brennan Bernardino went for the hero play at residence, however Alejandro Kirk couldn’t get sufficient glove on the ball and Jac Caglianone scored.
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Jason Owens
Italian residence runs proceed to be one of many tales of the World Baseball Classic. They’re as much as two in opposition to Mexico after a moonshot to the left-field bleachers from Jon Berti in the highest of the fourth.
Italy’s as much as 10 residence runs in three-plus WBC video games and has a 2-0 lead over Mexico with a spot in the knockout spherical at stake.
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Jason Owens
Vinnie Pasquantino’s second-inning residence run stays the one run on the board. Mexico obtained out of the highest of the third inning with a double-play ball and failed to attain in the underside half of the body.
Italy leads 1-0 via 3.
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Jason Owens
Italy is on the board first.
Vinnie Pasquantino hit a deep fly ball to proper subject to steer off the highest of the second that simply cleared the fence for a solo residence run. Jarren Duran had a shot at making a play on the ball, nevertheless it landed previous his outstretched glove into the hand of a fan in the primary row.
Italy takes a 1-0 lead into the underside of the second. Good information for Team USA events.
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Jack Baer
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Jack Baer
We’ll name {that a} good begin. The Mexican starter places Italy down in order in the highest of the primary inning on 15 pitches.
