They came in unbeaten. They came in loaded. Aaron Judge. Bryce Harper. Bobby Witt Jr. On paper, this was the most talented Team USA squad ever assembled for a World Baseball Classic.
Italy didn’t care about the paper.
Tuesday night at Daikin Park in Houston, in front of nearly 39,000 fans expecting an American coronation — Italy delivered one of the biggest upsets in WBC history, stunning the United States 8 to 6.
It started in the second inning. Starter Nolan McLean — who had struck out the side in the first — suddenly couldn’t get anyone out. Solo shot from Kyle Teel. Two-run blast from Sam Antonacci. Then in the fourth, Jac Caglianone launched one to right with a bat flip that said it all. Just like that — Italy 5, USA nothing.
Michael Lorenzen was brilliant on the mound, shutting the Americans out through the first five innings. The U.S. eventually rallied — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs — but when Aaron Judge stepped up in the ninth, representing the tying run, he struck out.
Ballgame.
Italy improves to three-and-oh. Team USA? Three-and-one, waiting on Mexico to decide their fate.
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