Team USA’s 8-6 loss to Italy on Tuesday night left the team’s World Baseball Classic advancement hopes hinging on the outcome of Wednesday night’s Italy vs. Mexico matchup.
The U.S. either needed Italy to win or Mexico to win and score 5-plus runs.
Italy won 9-1.
“You’re welcome, USA,” Italy team captain and Kansas City Royals’ first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said after the game.
With that, Team USA and Italy advance out of the pool play stage and into the quarterfinals.
Up next for the United States is Canada at 6 p.m. MDT on Friday.
Italy will face Puerto Rico on Saturday.
Held every three years, Japan won the WBC in 2023 and America won it in 2017.
Meanwhile, as a result of their loss Wednesday night, Mexico has been eliminated from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Here’s how that works
Baseball is a host-added, not permanent Olympic sport, limiting the competition field to six teams.
With the U.S. automatically qualifying as the host, the remaining five spots are divided regionally: two from the Americas (not including the U.S.), one from Asia, one from Europe/Oceania, and one final qualifier.
After Italy defeated Mexico, four American teams — Canada, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela — are competing for two Olympic bids.
Since two of these teams will finish higher than Mexico in the WBC standings, Mexico is eliminated from Olympic qualification.