The United States lost 8-6 to Italy in its final Pool B game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, March 10, at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.[1] Pete Crow-Armstrong, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, hit two home runs for the U.S., including one in the seventh inning.[3] Aaron Judge, right fielder for the New York Yankees, struck out to end the ninth.

Italy improved to 3-0 with the win, while the U.S. fell to 3-1. Mexico, at 2-1 entering the day, faces Italy on Wednesday, March 11.[1] Pool B features the United States, Mexico, Italy, Cuba, Colombia and Great Britain; the top two teams advance to the quarterfinals.[1]

If Italy defeats Mexico, it would finish 4-0 and claim first place, with the U.S. as Pool B runner-up. A Mexico win would leave the U.S., Italy and Mexico all at 3-1, triggering a three-way tiebreaker based first on head-to-head results among the tied teams.

The primary tiebreaker for multi-team ties is the lowest ratio of runs allowed to defensive outs recorded in the games among the tied teams.[2] Not all pool play games reach nine innings due to the mercy rule, which ends contests after five innings if one team leads by 15 runs or after seven innings by 10 runs.[2]

Italy reliever Greg Weissert, of the Boston Red Sox, and catcher J.J. D'Orazio combined for key moments in the victory.[5] Mexico-Italy is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.

Sources

1. MLB.com
   2026 World Baseball Classic dates, venues, teams announced
   May 9, 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-world-baseball-classic-dates-venues-teams-announced
2. Wikipedia
   World Baseball Classic
   Accessed October 2024
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Baseball_Classic
3. MLB.com
   Pete Crow-Armstrong
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/player/pete-crow-armstrong-680736
4. MLB.com
   Aaron Judge
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-judge-592450
5. MLB.com
   Greg Weissert
   Accessed October 2024
   https://www.mlb.com/player/greg-weisert-676263