Italy stuns USA in World Baseball Classic

Italy moves to top of Pool B standings with 8-6 victory over Team USA

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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In a surprising upset, Italy defeated the United States 8-6 in the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night in Houston. Italy raced out to an 8-0 lead before the USA mounted a late comeback, but ultimately fell short. The win puts Italy at the top of Pool B standings, while the USA now needs help to reach the quarterfinals.

Why it matters

This loss is a major setback for the heavily favored USA team, which was expected to cruise through the early rounds of the WBC. Italy's victory shakes up the Pool B standings and puts the USA's quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy, raising questions about the team's ability to advance in the tournament.

The details

Italy's Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Jac Caglianone all homered to power their team to the big lead. Starter Michael Lorenzen earned the win for Italy, pitching 4 2/3 scoreless innings. For the USA, Gunnar Henderson, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Roman Anthony all homered in the late innings to make it close, but they ultimately fell short.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, March 11, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
  • Italy and the USA will play their final Pool B games on Wednesday, March 12, 2026.

The players

Kyle Teel

An Italian player who hit a solo home run in the game.

Sam Antonacci

An Italian player who hit a two-run home run in the game.

Jac Caglianone

An Italian player who hit a two-run home run in the game.

Gunnar Henderson

A USA player who hit a solo home run in the game.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

A USA player who hit two home runs in the game.

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What they’re saying

“This is a huge win for us and puts us in a great position to advance in the tournament.”

— Kyle Teel (italics*USA Today*italics)

“We fought hard to get back in the game, but just came up short in the end. We'll regroup and be ready for our next game.”

— Gunnar Henderson, USA Player (italics*ESPN*italics)

What’s next

The USA will need Italy to beat Mexico on Wednesday in order to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. If Mexico wins, the three teams will be tied at 3-1 and the tiebreaker will come down to runs allowed per out in head-to-head games.

The takeaway

This unexpected loss by the heavily favored USA team shows that no team can be overlooked in the competitive World Baseball Classic. Italy's strong performance has shaken up the Pool B standings and put the USA's quarterfinal hopes in jeopardy, underscoring the unpredictability and excitement of this global tournament.