HOUSTON — Italy continued its impressive run in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday night, defeating Puerto Rico 8-6 in the quarterfinals to secure a place in the tournament’s semifinals for the first time.
With the victory, Italy improved to a perfect 5-0 record in the competition and will now travel to Miami for the next round. The team is scheduled to face the winner of the matchup between Japan and Venezuela on Monday.
Puerto Rico took an early lead when Willi Castro opened the game with a home run, giving his team a quick advantage. However, Italy answered immediately with a strong first inning, scoring four runs to take control of the game.
Italy’s offense was led by J.J. D’Orazio, who delivered a key double that drove in three runs. Andrew Fischer also played an important role, contributing two RBIs to help extend the lead.
The Italian lineup continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning. After drawing three consecutive walks with two outs to load the bases, Fischer hit a deep ball to right field that resulted in fan interference. He was awarded a double on the play, bringing in a run and increasing Italy’s lead.
Moments later, D’Orazio added another big hit with a two-run ground-rule double, pushing Italy further ahead and giving the team valuable breathing room.
Puerto Rico attempted a comeback in the eighth inning, putting together a late rally. Eddie Rosario drove in a run on a force play, and a wild pitch allowed another runner to score. Christian Vázquez then delivered a two-run single to bring Puerto Rico within striking distance.
Despite the late pressure, Italy’s bullpen managed to hold the lead. Reliever Greg Weissert closed out the game, allowing only one hit in the final inning before retiring the last batter to secure the win.
Starting pitcher Sam Aldegheri earned the victory after helping limit Puerto Rico’s offense in the early innings.
The win marks a historic moment for Italy, which had never advanced this far in the tournament before. With momentum on its side and an unbeaten record, the team will now look to continue its surprising run when it takes the field in the semifinals.