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Italy wasted little time building a big lead on Mexico on Wednesday night in Houston. (AP/Ashley Landis)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Well, the United States is almost certainly moving on after all.
Italy jumped up big on Mexico early on Wednesday night, and took a 5-0 lead through five innings at Daikin Park in Houston. That, thanks to a tiebreaker scenario, all-but ensures that the United States will get into the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic after its stunning loss to Italy on Tuesday night.
So long as Italy holds to grab the win in nine innings, which would give it the Pool B victory, the United States will advance to the knockout stage. Even if Mexico comes back to grab the win, the runs they would need to do that would still give the United States the tiebreaker.
Had Mexico beaten Italy in a low scoring game, it would have been much more complicated for the United States to have found a way into the knockout round.
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Vinnie Pasquatino hit a solo home run to put Italy up early in the second inning, though the ball just barely made it past the glove of Mexican right fielder Jarren Duran.
Jon Berti then doubled up that lead in the fourth inning with a deep shot over the left field wall.
Though Mexico swapped pitchers in the fifth after Javier Assad ended his day with five strikeouts, the Italians quickly added another run after a perfect bunt scored Jac Caglianone. Then it was Jakob Marsee who hit a two-run single that finally gave Italy the 5-0 lead it needed to help out the United States.
Pasquatino, for good measure, hit another home run to open the sixth inning to push Italy’s lead even more.
Italy jumped out to a wild 8-0 lead over Team USA on Tuesday night, and then held on for an 8-6 win in the end to take the solo lead in Pool B. But thanks to their six late runs, the Americans still had a shot come Wednesday night. They just had to sweat it out in Houston.
Assuming Italy finishes with the Pool B win and the United States sneaks through to the next round, the Americans will take on Canada in their quarterfinal matchup on Saturday. Canada beat Cuba earlier on Wednesday to go 3-1 and win Pool A.
Though they certainly almost let it slip, the United States is still alive in the World Baseball Classic.
This post will be updated with more information shortly.
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