Vinnie Pasquantino homers blast Italy past Mexico

HOUSTON – After going hitless in the first three games of the World Baseball Classic, Vinnie Pasquantino hit three home runs to help Italy clinch the first seed in Pool B Wednesday night against Mexico.

Team USA and Mexico were heavy favorites to advance to the quarterfinals, but Italy’s offense was too much for both teams to handle.

By the time they were done, Italy had outscored Team USA and Mexico by a combined scored of 17-7.

Italy 9, Mexico 1.

Not even the pro-Mexican crowd of 39,894 was enough to quiet down the Italian bats. Mexico’s Javier Assad struck out the side in the first. However Pasquantino led off the second inning with his first home run. The Italian offense surged after that. 

Starting in the fourth, Italy scored in five consecutive innings. Pasquantino, a native of Richmond, Virginia, added leadoff home runs in the sixth and the eighth. He become the first player in WBC history to hit three home runs in the same game. The Chicago Cubs’ Jon Berti added a home run in the fourth.

’It’s special’

“But it’s special,” Pasquantino said. “I wasn’t really thinking about it. Honestly, I was really happy with the 2-2 take I had that at-bat. I had been chasing quite a bit to the point that, you know, I wanted to just cry. Just like, ‘hey, stop chasing balls. Just take balls.’ And I took that pitch. And I think I was about as happy as I could be.

“So I was happy with that and obviously the result that followed was cool. It was a good night. But we’ve got to flip the page and get to Saturday.”

Italy right-hander Aaron Nola pitched five-scoreless innings of four-hit ball for the victory. He struck out five and walked a lone batter. The Philadelphia Phillies’ starter was everything Italy needed, especially since manager Francisco Cervelli admitted he had only five pitchers available.

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Nola attacked hitters and frequently found himself ahead in the count, a strategy he believed contributed to his success. Nola and Mexico’s manager Benji Gil said that the curveball was a difference maker. 

“The fastball had a little jump to it early on,” Nola said. “It set up my curveball. My curveball felt pretty sharp and got guys to get out in front and swing over it.”

Nola and Cervelli said Team Italy is “Vinnie’s team.” Cervelli named Vinnie Pasquantino captain. The Italian-Venezuelan manager praised Pasquantino as a natural leader. Since accepting the captain’s role, Pasquantino has had a vocal presence in the clubhouse. 

He’s stepped up to defend players. He’s led by example in the way he treats his teammates and opponents. Cervelli praised how he respects everyone. Nola declared that with the energy he Pasquantino brings daily, the Kansas City Royals’ first baseman runs the clubhouse.

Respected leader

“I think leaders, they’re born like that,” Cervelli said. “This guy, everybody follows him. He respects everyone. He can be loud sometimes when he needs to. He doesn’t talk that much. Everybody follows him.

“That’s a leader. He put himself before everyone to protect everyone, not because it’s Vinnie. That’s what a captain is.”

Team Italy has had two staple wins when they beat the United States and Mexico to reach the quarterfinals. They will now meet Puerto Rico in Houston.

This team has certainly made waves throughout the international baseball world.

“Italy in baseball is a really, really good team,”Gil said. “Let’s say tonight’s game wouldn’t have happened. After three games of watching them, does someone think they’re a bad team after what they displayed against the U.S.?

“Whoever thinks they’re not a good team — forget about tonight’s game — let’s say we just watched last night’s game. And you were to tell me that they’re not a good team, you have no clue what you’re talking about.”