Text and photos by Gabriel Fidler.
HOUSTON, U.S. – Nine years ago, almost to the hour, Italy opened its 2017 World Baseball Classic schedule by coming from behind to defeat Mexico, 10-9. Tonight, it started out hot against the USA and held on for an historic victory, 8-6. In doing so, the Italians put themselves in the position to advance to the WBC quarterfinals in place of the Americans. At this point, Gli Azzurri are representing not only Italy, but the entire continent of Europe, as all other teams from the continent have been eliminated from this WBC.
‘Probably this is one of the best days of my life,’ enthused Manager Francisco Cervelli after the game. ‘I’m proud of my guys…, they’re young, but they play like they’ve been in the big leagues for 10 years. Their focus was there. And, you know, everybody in Italy should see this. We’re doing it for them, for the kids. It can happen. It’s possible.’
For all the offensive firepower of the vaunted U.S. lineup, Kyle Teel smashed a homer and a double, Sam Antonacci crushed a 403-foot homer at 103.4 mph, and Jac Caglianone [pictured above] hit a big fly that equalled that distance, but travelled at a head-turning 110.4 mph. When one considers that the hardest-hit homer in the Statcast era travelled at 122.9 mph, it is clear that these were no flukes.
As Jeff Passan pointed out in the post-game press conference, the top five hitters in the lineup went 0-for-22—and did so with 10 strikeouts and only two walks—yet the contributions of its young stars put enough runs on the board to pull out a win.
The other crucial element was Michael Lorenzen, who pitched arguably the second-best start of his career after his 2023 no-hitter for the Phillies. Working on a pitch count, he went 4.2 shutout innings, permitted only two hits and a walk, and whiffed two.
‘It’s incredible. Anytime you can make history is, it’s incredible,’ noted Lorenzen. ‘I would say right
behind the no-hitter, for sure. It’s up there.’
Team USA was done 8-0 before breaking up the shutout, which Gunnar Henderson did with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. However, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong who made things interested, blasting a three-run rocket in the seventh and a solo shot in the bottom of the ninth.
Despite an 0-for-3, Dante Nori is now Italy’s best-ever hitter with a minimum of 10 at bats, as he is 5-for-10. Matt Festa moved into second place in Italy’s all-time WBC pitching leaders in games (5) and strikeouts (8, tied with young ace Sam Aldegheri). Lorenzen was one out away from becoming the only Italian starter to throw five shutout innings in a WBC.
Italy is the only undefeated team in the group, and one of four teams which have won every game: Japan (4-0), Dominican Republic (3-0), and Venezuela (3-0). Later today, it will face off against Mexico in a game that will decide both teams to advance from Pool B.