Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Jac Caglianone homered as Italy built a big lead and dominated the United States 8-6 in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night.
The United States completed pool action at Houston’s Daikin Park, with Italy needing a win over Mexico on Wednesday night to guarantee a place in the quarterfinals. If Mexico beats Italy, the three teams will win 3-1, the winner will be decided by a tiebreaker, and the team that allowed the most goals will be eliminated.
Italian starter Michael Lorenzen allowed two hits in 4 2/3 innings to keep the U.S. off balance.
Pete Crow-Armstrong homered twice and drove in four runs and Gunnar Henderson added a solo shot for the United States, but the rally ended when Greg Weissert struck out Aaron Judge.
Crow Armstrong cut the lead to 8-6 with a single to right field with one out in the ninth inning. Bobby Witt Jr. singled, Henderson struck out, and Judge buzzed in to start the Italian celebration.
The United States fell behind 8-1 with two outs in the 7th inning when Crow Armstrong hit a majestic 3-run home run to right field.
Kyle Schwarber and Will Smith had back-to-back singles with two outs in the eighth, and Roman Anthony hit an RBI single on a line drive to left field. But Ron Marinaccio got pinch hitter Bryce Harper out on a fly ball to end the inning.
Till hit a home run into the left field Crawford box, giving Italy the lead with two outs in the third inning. McLean threw out Caglianone before Antonacci’s bullpen home run to right center made it 3-0.
In the fourth inning, Caliano’s Ryan Yarbrough took a two-run shot to take the lead to 5-0.
The Italians added a run on an error, another on a sacrifice fly and a third on a wild pitch by Brad Keller to push the lead to 8-0 in the United States’ sloppy sixth.
The United States finally tied the game with Henderson’s home run in the 6th inning.
Japan goes undefeated in World Baseball Classic group stage, defeating Czech Republic 9-0 following Murakami’s grand slam
Defending champion Japan finished the group stage undefeated with a 9-0 win over the Czech Republic following a nine-run eighth inning led by Munetaka Murakami’s grand slam home run in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) group stage Tuesday night at Tokyo Dome.
Japan advanced to the quarterfinals after outscoring their opponents 39-9 and 4-0 against either Venezuela or the Dominican Republic on Saturday in Miami.
Japan rested Shohei Ohtani, who had a batting average of .556 with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, and 4 walks.
The Czech Republic, bronze medalists at the 2025 European Championships, finished 0-4 and with a batting average of .167, 19th out of 20 teams and ahead of Brazil (.130).
Kenya Wakatsuki hit a go-ahead double off Michal Kobala in the eighth inning and was ejected after Shuto Ukyo’s three-run home run. Shugo Maki drew a bases-loaded walk from two-way player Ryan Johnson, who also plays first base. Murakami drove a fastball from the top of the strike zone 425 feet into the right-center field seats.
Czech starter Ondrej (pronounced Andre) Sartoria allowed six hits over 4 2/3 innings, throwing 42 changeups out of 67 pitches. His fastest speed was 79.9 mph.
Sartoria is famous in Japan. He struck out Ohtani on three pitches at the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
Sartoria said before the game that she was “sad” upon learning that Ohtani had been left out of the lineup. “I think the fans are very disappointed as well. I think they are probably taking a break for their long trip to Miami.”
The winner, Yumeto Kanemaru, pitched two perfect innings, striking out five.
All Czech players work during the day. Sartoria, who is retiring from the national team, is an electrician, and coach Pavel Chadim (Doctor Chadim) is a neurologist.
Chadim attended the interview session wearing his bronze medal from the 2025 European Championships.
“I got this medal because I want to show people around the world that we are not baseball tourists,” Chadim said. “We play baseball as professionals. We don’t want excuses. We play as professionals on the field.”
Jake Gelof’s three points led Israel to a 6-2 win over the Netherlands.
Jake Gelof scored three points and Matt Mervis doubled to lead Israel (2-2) against the Netherlands (1-3) in a Group D match featuring teams already eliminated.
A scoring grounder by Xander Bogaerts and a sacrifice fly by Didi Gregorius put the Netherlands on top in Miami, but Gelof cut the deficit with an RBI double in the second.
Mervis went 5-and-6 with a two-run double over losser Kevin Kelly. RJ Schreck hit a tying RBI single and Geloff followed with a two-run hit to make it 4-2. Garrett Stubbs reached on a one-out fielding error by first baseman Sharlon Schoop, leaving four runs unearned in the inning.
Josh Mallitz got the win with the last out in the fifth, and Ben Simon walked three and struck out three in the ninth with no saves.
Druw Jones walked four for Holland and allowed 11 hits and no runs while runners were in scoring position.
Dutch reliever Ryjeteri Merite, making his fifth WBC appearance, allowed no runs and one hit over 3 1/3 innings, tying a record shared by Venezuela’s Miguel Cabrera and Cuba’s Alfredo Despaigne.
Canada defeats Puerto Rico 3-2 and can advance by defeating Cuba
Rico Garcia scored the tying run in the third inning by giving up bases-loaded walks to Tyler O’Neill and Tyler Black, and Canada continued its race to advance to Group A by defeating host Puerto Rico in San Juan.
Puerto Rico (3-1) has already advanced to the quarterfinals. Both Canada and Cuba enter Wednesday’s final game at 2-1, and a win would send Canada past the first round for the first time.
In the game, which started after a 69-minute rain delay, Nolan Arenado’s RBI single in the first inning gave Puerto Rico the lead by winning pitcher Jordan Balajovic, but Canada had the bases loaded in the third inning against Jose de Leon and Garcia had trouble controlling the ball in relief.
Abraham Toro added a single against Raymond Burgos in the fourth inning to make it 3-1, but Martín Maldonado hit an RBI groundout against Logan Allen in the second half.
Angel Reyes retired Josh Naylor on an inning-ending flyout to leave the bases loaded in the ninth. Brock Dykxhoorn got three straight outs for his first save.
