PR eliminated from World Baseball Classic.

Puerto Rico’s 8-6 loss to Italy in the quarterfinals on Saturday ended the national team’s participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

By THE STAR STAFF

Team Puerto Rico lost 8-6 to Italy on Saturday at Daikin Park in Houston, bringing their participation in the 2026 World Baseball Classic to a close.

Team Italy (5-0) took control of the quarterfinal contest early with a four-run outburst in the first inning, a surge that ultimately proved decisive. The Italians added four more runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead.

Puerto Rico (3-2) was the first to get on the board, courtesy of a solo home run by Willi Castro in the first inning. However, the Italians responded immediately in the bottom half of the same inning. Vinnie Pasquantino tied the game with an RBI single, Dominic Canzone drove in another run to give Italy a 2-1 lead, and shortly thereafter a single by Jack Caglianone made it 3-1. The fourth run came via a sacrifice fly by JJ D’Orazio.

In the second inning, Puerto Rico narrowed the gap on the scoreboard when Martín “Machete” Maldonado was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in Heliot Ramos for the national team’s second run.

Italy rallied for four more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a pair of two-out RBI doubles. After fan interference was called on Andrew Fischer’s bases-loaded fly ball to the right field wall, bringing two runs across, another ground-rule double down the right field line by D’Orazio plated two more runs to make it 8-2.

In the eighth inning, Puerto Rico mounted a four-run rally -- fueled by an RBI grounder by Eddie Rosario, a wild pitch by Italy reliever Joe La Sorsa, and an RBI single by Christian Vázquez -- bringing the score within two runs, which would be the final margin.

Lefty Sam Aldegheri recorded the win for Italy, and Greg Weissert picked up the save. Right-hander Seth Lugo took the loss after allowing the game’s first four runs while recording just one out.

Having concluded their participation in the Classic, Team Puerto Rico members were to return to their respective organizations to resume their professional commitments.