Overview
- Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino recorded the World Baseball Classic's first three-homer game.
- He homered in the second, sixth and eighth innings off Javier Assad, Daniel Duarte and Robert Garcia.
- Pasquantino entered the game 0-for-12 in the tournament before delivering the breakout performance.
- Italy won 9-1 at Daikin Park in Houston to finish pool play 4-0 and eliminate Mexico.
- The result secured a Saturday quarterfinal against Puerto Rico and also helped the United States advance.