Vinnie Pasquantino led Italy over Mexico 9-1 in the World Baseball Classic, leading the team to win Pool B and advance the United States to the quarterfinals as the group's second-place team. This victory ended a day of uncertainty for the Americans, who lost to Italy 8-6. Pasquantinos, who opened the tournament 0 for 12, homered three home runs leading off the second, sixth and eighth innings. Italy will face Puerto Rico in the quarterfinal in Houston on Saturday. Mexico's loss eliminated it from qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Canada advanced past the first round for the first time, defeating Cuba 7-2 in a winner-take-all game.