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Two MLB stars played pivotal roles in the United States officially locking in a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Wednesday night. Neither of them, despite being born in the U.S., play for the Americans.
In the final game of Pool B play, Italy routed Mexico, 9-1, a result that not only meant the Italians have won their pool and will continue their hot start into the bracket, but also allowed the United States to exhale, locking in the second Pool B spot in the quarterfinals.
The Americans could have snuck into the bracket with a complicated Mexico win, but they were undoubtedly rooting for the team they just lost to 8-6 on Tuesday night. When Team USA needed the boost to stay alive, Italy came through with another big win -- and well-established MLB players Vinnie Pasquantino and Aaron Nola were at the center of Wednesday's impressive victory.
Here's how standout performances from Pasquantino, Nola and more helped the United States advance in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC HQ: Live scores | Updated standings | Full TV schedule
Italy vs. Mexico WBC scenarios, explained
Because of Italy's 8-6 win over the United States on Tuesday, there were three Pool B teams alive, but only two spots available in the quarterfinals, heading into Wednesday.
The more complicated scenario was if Mexico beat Italy; in that case, either the U.S. or Italy could have been the second Pool B team to advance. Because all three teams would be tied at 3-1 with a dead-even head-to-head tiebreaker, the next tiebreaker was "runs allowed per defensive outs." When the numbers were crunched, the math was:
- If Mexico won and scored 5 or more runs, then Mexico and U.S. advanced to quarterfinals
- If Mexico won and scored 4 or less runs, then Mexico and Italy advanced to the quarterfinals
So, for Team USA, it wasn't just worrying about the result of Wednesday's game, but the fashion it came in. Fortunately for the star-studded Americans, they did not have to worry about the math in the end.
The other scenario was simple: if Italy won, then the U.S. would join the Italians as the Pool B victors and advance to the quarterfinals. That much simpler scenario came to fruition, with Italy blowing out Mexico to close Pool B play.
Aaron Nola stats vs. Mexico
- Innings: 5.0
- Earned Runs: 0
- Hits: 4
- Walks: 1
- Strikeouts: 5
- Pitches-Strikes: 69-45
When Italy needed its top pitcher most, he stepped up with five scoreless innings against a talented Mexico lineup. Nola, a longtime member of the Philadelphia Phillies, initially found trouble in the first inning of Wednesday's game, but then settled in to cruise against Jarren Duran, Randy Arozarena and more.
The 32-year-old right-hander, coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season in Philadelphia, did everything he needed to quiet Mexico's bats and help his team advance. After Michael Lorenzen stepped up against the U.S. on Monday, Nola did the same for Italy, striking out five.
Aaron Nola turns in five shutout innings for Italy! pic.twitter.com/mnimWfRP37
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 12, 2026MORE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026:
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Vinnie Pasquantino stats vs. Mexico
- Hits-At Bats: 3-4
- Runs: 3
- Home Runs: 3
- RBIs: 3
- Walks: 1
- Strikeouts: 1
Offensively, Italy found production throughout its lineup on Wednesday, but its most proven slugger had the biggest night. Despite coming into the game still hitless in the tournament, Vinnie Pasquantino had a huge performance, hitting three home runs as part of Italy's nine-run outburst.
All three of Pasquantino's homers were solo shots, but they helped pad Italy's advantage throughout the night.
He had the first three-homer game in World Baseball Classic history. The Kansas City Royals slugger, coming off a career-best 32-homer season in 2025, put his team in position to advance.
MORE: Everything to know about Vinnie Pasquantino's background, MLB stats
Italy highlights vs. Mexico
After a scoreless first inning, it was Pasquantino who opened the scoring with his first of three home runs on the night. His first barely snuck over the glove of Boston Red Sox star Jarren Duran's glove in right field:
Vinnie Pasquantino puts Italy on the board first 🇮🇹 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/757edPhdOk
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 11, 2026In the fourth inning, Jon Berti also came through, making it 2-0 Italy with a home run into left-center.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 11, 2026Italy's bats woke up from there — perhaps due to the espresso in the dugout. By the end of the fifth inning, it was a 5-0 lead, which meant that as long as the game didn't go to extra innings, it would be Italy and the U.S. advancing out of Pool B.
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2026Pasquantino, however, had more. The Royals star got a hold of a pitch and sent it into the right-field corner for homer No. 2.
VINNIE PASQUANTINO AGAIN! 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/o5vKDzlRak
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2026Some hustle from Sam Antonacci on the basepaths helped Italy extend the lead to 7-0.
Sam Antonacci shows off the wheels for Team Italy! 🇮🇹 #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/VGPS2dLFw0
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2026Pasquantino made history in the eighth inning, becoming the first player to hit three home runs in a WBC game.
A THREE-HOMER GAME FOR VINNIE PASQUANTINO 🤌🤌🤌 pic.twitter.com/lIS854ULAA
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 12, 2026MORE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2026:
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