Team USA's World Baseball Classic hopes take massive hit with Italy upset

Team USA suffered a monolithic upset astatine the hands of Italy connected Tuesday nighttime astatine the World Baseball Classic, putting their hopes of moving to the quarterfinal circular successful jeopardy.

Italy’s Kyle Teel, Sam Antonacci and Jac Caglianone homered arsenic Italy defeated the U.S., 8-6, successful the Americans’ last crippled successful excavation play.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

United States pitcher Brad Keller (40) walks to the dugout successful the mediate of the sixth inning of a World Baseball Classic crippled against Italy , Tuesday, March 10, 2026, successful Houston.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Italian starter Michael Lorenzen allowed 2 hits successful 4.2 scoreless innings. The U.S. got homers from Pete Crow-Armstrong doubly and Gunnar Henderson, but their rally fell short.

Aaron Judge had a accidental to widen the crippled for the U.S. successful the ninth inning, but struck out.

"It’s the toughest thing," helium said. "You ever similar having your destiny successful your ain hands and we had it close successful beforehand of america and Italy came retired swinging."

The Americans were down 8-1 successful the seventh inning earlier Crow-Armstrong’s location run.

ITALY'S DUGOUT ESPRESSO MACHINE TRADITION FUELS HOT START IN WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC

Italy catcher Kyle Teel (3) celebrates arsenic helium tally the bases aft a location tally against the United States successful the World Baseball Classic game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, successful Houston.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

The U.S. appeared to beryllium dealt a confusing situation, perchance reasoning they had already clinched a spot successful the adjacent round. Manager Mark DeRosa seemed to deliberation that erstwhile helium said successful a TV quality they the squad wanted to triumph the crippled "even though our ticket’s punched to the quarterfinals …"

DeRosa said helium "misspoke" and Judge added that helium didn’t deliberation players had already thought their spot was secured.

"It's retired of our power now," helium said. "We conscionable request a small luck and we’ll spot what happens."

Now, the U.S. volition request to anticipation for an Italy triumph implicit Mexico. If Mexico wins, past each 3 teams volition determination to 3-1 and 1-1 against each different and nonstop it to a tiebreaker.

United States halfway fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) celebrates aft hitting a location tally against Italy successful the ninth inning of a World Baseball Classic game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, successful Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The tiebreaker is the fig of runs allowed successful games betwixt the tied teams. The U.S. could beforehand adjacent if Mexico wins if it scores astatine slightest 5 runs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.