Team Italy Builds Big Lead, Survives Puerto Rico Rally for 8–6 Win to Reach WBC Semifinals

HOUSTON — Any suggestion that Puerto Rico entered Saturday’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinal tired disappeared almost immediately.

Daikin Park sounded like San Juan.

Even with Italy emerging as the tournament’s surprise contender, the crowd leaned heavily toward Puerto Rico, and the energy exploded when Willi Castro opened the game with a leadoff home run.

Castro drove Sam Aldegheri’s pitch 381 feet into the left-center seats, giving Puerto Rico a quick 1–0 lead and igniting a crowd that had traveled well to Houston for the knockout-stage matchup.

For a few minutes, the momentum belonged entirely to Puerto Rico.

It did not last long.

Italy Answers Immediately

Puerto Rico handed the ball to Seth Lugo expecting stability at the start of the bottom of the first. Instead, the inning unraveled quickly.

Sam Antonacci opened the inning with a walk before Thomas Saggese struck out looking. Lugo then issued another walk to Jakob Marsee, pushing his pitch count up early and bringing Italy’s middle of the order to the plate with traffic on the bases.

Italy responded with three consecutive singles.

Vinnie Pasquantino lined a base hit to center that scored Antonacci and tied the game. Dominic Canzone followed with another RBI single that brought Marsee home and pushed Italy ahead.

Jac Caglianone then added a run-scoring single to right, extending the lead as Italy seized control of the inning.

After the game, Pasquantino reflected on the moment and what representing Italy meant to him and his family.

“It’s unbelievable. You know the name Pasquantino, right? You know what it is. I mean, my grandfather — I’m sure he’s watching right now — probably. The Pasquantinos back in Italy are watching, probably. Family back in New York watching. This is why you do it. You represent your family, and we were able to do that this week, and I couldn’t be more honored.”

Pasquantino also helped spark the offense on the bases, stealing second later in the game.

“Sometimes you get a read and you make things happen.”

In many ways, that approach has defined Team Italy throughout this World Baseball Classic, where the club improved to a perfect 5–0 with the win over Puerto Rico.

Vinnie Pasquantino lined a base hit to center field that scored Antonacci and tied the game. Dominic Canzone followed with another RBI single to center that brought Marsee home and gave Italy a 2–1 lead.

Moments later, Jac Caglianone singled to right field, driving in Pasquantino to extend the lead to 3–1.

Lugo’s outing ended shortly after, having recorded just one out while allowing three hits, two walks and four runs.

Reliever Jovani Morán entered to stop the damage, but Italy added one more run before the inning ended when J.J. D’Orazio lifted a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Canzone.

By the time the first inning closed, Italy had flipped the early deficit into a 4–1 lead.

Puerto Rico Scratches Back

Puerto Rico responded in the second inning as Heliot Ramos and Eddie Rosario worked walks and Matthew Lugo was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Martin Maldonado was then hit by a pitch, forcing in a run and trimming Italy’s lead to 4–2.

Italy turned to the bullpen soon afterward, and Alek Jacob stabilized the inning before Dylan DeLucia entered in the third and began to settle the game on the mound.

The Pasquantino At-Bat Extends the Lead

The game remained within reach until the fourth inning, when an extended at-bat changed the shape of the contest.

With two outs, Pasquantino faced Puerto Rico reliever Eduardo Rivera in a lengthy plate appearance. Rivera worked the edges of the zone while Pasquantino refused to chase, fouling off multiple pitches and forcing the count deeper.

On what appeared to be strike three, a pitch missed its target badly and skipped away from the catcher, ruled a ball instead of ending the inning.

In Major League Baseball, the pitch likely would have triggered an automated ball-strike challenge review.

The World Baseball Classic does not use the ABS challenge system.

The at-bat continued.

Pasquantino eventually walked and immediately stole second base. Dominic Canzone followed with another walk, and Jac Caglianone drew a free pass to load the bases.

Andrew Fischer broke the inning open with a two-run double to right field.

Moments later, D’Orazio lined a ground-rule double down the right-field line that scored two more runs.

Instead of the inning ending, Italy had built its lead to 8–2.

DeLucia Stabilizes the Game

While Italy’s offense created separation, Dylan DeLucia quietly took control on the mound.

The right-hander delivered four scoreless innings after entering in the third, allowing only two hits while striking out three and repeatedly inducing weak contact from Puerto Rico’s lineup.

His work allowed Italy to hold the lead through the middle innings while the game slowed after the early scoring.

Puerto Rico Rallies Late

Puerto Rico began to push again late in the game.

The first opportunity came in the seventh inning when Bryan Torres walked and MJ Melendez reached on a fielding error by Pasquantino, putting runners at the corners with nobody out.

Italy turned to Dan Altavilla, who escaped the jam by retiring Castro on a lineout to shortstop before striking out Darell Hernaiz and Nolan Arenado.

Puerto Rico mounted a stronger rally in the eighth.

Carlos Cortes opened the inning with a single before Emmanuel Rivera and Heliot Ramos drew walks to load the bases.

Eddie Rosario drove in a run on a forceout, and a wild pitch moments later allowed another run to score.

Christian Vázquez then lined a single to right field that brought home two more runs, cutting Italy’s lead to 8–6 and placing the tying run on base.

Italy’s bullpen regrouped before the inning could continue further. Greg Weissert struck out Castro and induced a ground ball from Hernaiz before Arenado grounded out to end the inning.

Puerto Rico had trimmed the margin to two runs, but the comeback stalled there.

Italy turned to Dan Altavilla earlier to escape a seventh-inning jam, retiring Willi Castro on a lineout before striking out Darell Hernaiz and Nolan Arenado.

Puerto Rico mounted its biggest rally in the eighth.

Carlos Cortes singled, and Emmanuel Rivera and Heliot Ramos drew walks to load the bases. Eddie Rosario drove in a run on a forceout, and a wild pitch brought another home.

Christian Vázquez followed with a two-run single to right, cutting Italy’s lead to 8–6 and putting the tying run on base.

Greg Weissert entered and struck out Castro before Hernaiz singled to extend the inning.

With two on, Arenado drove a deep fly to right field that carried toward the wall before settling into Jac Caglianone’s glove — a ball that might have tied the game with another 30 feet.

Puerto Rico threatened again in the ninth when Cortes singled to open the inning, but the rally stalled as Emmanuel Rivera struck out, Heliot Ramos flew out to right, and Eddie Rosario lifted the final fly to left.

Italy secured the 8–6 victory and advanced.

Tournament Implications

Italy now moves on to the World Baseball Classic semifinals in Miami, the deepest run in program history.

The Italians will face the winner of Japan vs. Venezuela in the semifinal on March 16 at loanDepot Park.

The other semifinal features the United States and the Dominican Republic on March 15.

The World Baseball Classic championship game will be played March 17 in Miami.

Photo: Italy pitcher Dylan DeLucia throws during the third inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico, Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Daikin Park in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)