More than 300 Major League Baseball players have been born in Puerto Rico. Only nine have been born in Italy. Before their matchup in the quarterfinal of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, Italy’s manager, Francisco Cervelli, conceded the disparity.
“We already know what Puerto Rico is about,” Cervelli said. “They’re a baseball country. They know how to play.”
Italy is still learning. Yet, with the help of some spirited descendants born in the United States, the country’s baseball movement has momentum.
Team Italy advanced to the WBC semifinals by holding on to eliminate Puerto Rico, 8-6, before a crowd of 34,299 fans at Daikin Park. Italy, which had lost in its two prior trips to the quarterfinals, will face the winner of Saturday night’s Japan-Venezuela game in Monday’s semifinal in Miami.
“It’s amazing,” said first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, the Royals slugger who serves as Italy’s captain. “I don’t think it would be hyperbole to say this is the best day in Italian baseball history, just getting here. It’s the farthest the team’s ever been.”
The fans stood and roared when Puerto Rico rallied, and grew silent when Italy did. Still, an early pair of four-run innings — powered by walks — gave Italy all the support it needed.
When Puerto Rico made a late charge, scoring four in the eighth on singles, walks and a hit batter, Greg Weissert snuffed out their rally. Weissert, of the Boston Red Sox, had saved Italy’s upset of the United States in pool play. He faced Nolan Arenado, Puerto Rico’s most decorated player, as the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth, inducing a groundout to third to end the inning.
Puerto Rico entered the game with a 1.22 ERA, the best in the WBC, and its most experienced starter on the mound. However, Seth Lugo, a 2024 All-Star for the Kansas City Royals, lasted only six batters in the bottom of the first, allowing two walks, three singles and four runs.
Another four-run rally in the fourth, with two doubles following three walks, gave Team Italy just enough room to survive — and it hopes to continue to thrive in Miami.
