Italy ignites the WBC with a dramatic 8–6 victory, leaving the defending giants on the brink of elimination.Italy secured a staggering 8-6 victory over a star-studded Team USA in Houston on Tuesday night, in what is being hailed as one of the greatest upsets in the 20-year history of the World Baseball Classic.  The result has sent shockwaves through the tournament, shifting the balance of Pool B and leaving the American "Dream Team" dependent on other results to avoid a premature exit from the competition.   "The unimaginable has happened. Italy beat the United States" - writes La Gazzetta dello Sport - "Italian baseball has stunned the entire world."   The Italians established their dominance early at Daikin Park, dismantling the US pitching staff with clinical precision. Facing New York Mets prospect Nolan McLean, the Azzurri erupted in the second inning.   Sam Antonacci and Kyle Teel both launched home runs to provide an immediate 3-0 lead, reports USA Today Sports. The momentum continued in the fourth when Jac Caglianone added a two-run shot off reliever Ryan Yarbrough, extending the cushion to 5-0.   TEAM ITALY SHOCKS THE BASEBALL WORLD! #WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC pic.twitter.com/65hmK0Fuvl — World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 11, 2026   By the time a series of American defensive lapses and a wild pitch from Brad Keller allowed three more runs in the sixth, Italy held an almost unthinkable 8-0 advantage.   The United States mounted a late-inning resurgence courtesy of Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the charge with a pair of home runs, including a three-run blast in the seventh that breathed life into the home crowd.   Roman Anthony and Gunnar Henderson also contributed to a six-run unanswered run that brought the US within striking distance, before Boston reliever Greg Weissert sealed the historic win for Italy.   "This isn't the first time we've beaten the United States" - La Gazzetta dello Sport reports - "It already happened in 1973 in Parma at the Intercontinental Cup (6-5 in the 10th inning); in 1986 at the World Cup in the Netherlands (5-3); and in 2007 at the World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan (6-2). But they were the United States amateur national teams. This time, all the best were there."   The fallout from the defeat is significant. Italy now sits at 3-0 and is in pole position to win Pool B, while the US (3-1) must wait for the outcome of Wednesday’s clash between Italy and Mexico.   An Italian victory would secure safe passage for the Americans, but a low-scoring win for Mexico could see the tournament favourites eliminated via tiebreakers.   Photo Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball

    TEAM ITALY SHOCKS THE BASEBALL WORLD! — World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) The fallout from the defeat is significant. Italy now sits at 3-0 and is in pole position to win Pool B, while the US (3-1) must wait for the outcome of Wednesday’s clash between Italy and Mexico.