Team USA’s World Baseball Classic pool stage ended the only way it could after Tuesday night’s upset: with Italy doing the heavy lifting and the Americans waiting for a favor.

Italy beat Mexico 9-1 on Wednesday night at Daikin Park to finish 4-0 in Pool B, win the group outright, and send the United States into the quarterfinals as the pool runner-up at 3-1.

The result removed the last remaining elimination scenario for the Americans, whose 8-6 loss to Italy a day earlier had turned a comfortable path into a tiebreaker problem. Italy’s win made the standings simple: Italy first, USA second, Mexico eliminated.

The game itself was not close, and it started with the one player who entered the night needing a reset. Italy captain Vinnie Pasquantino hit three home runs, the first three-homer game in World Baseball Classic history, after beginning the night hitless in 12 at-bats in the tournament.

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After the final out, Pasquantino used his on-field interview to make the point that did not need explaining.

“You’re welcome, USA,” Pasquantino said. “We were thinking of you guys, over at your hotel. We were thinking of you guys, so I’m glad you guys could join us in the party.”

Pasquantino’s first home run came in the second inning. Italy added another long ball in the fourth from Jon Berti, and a three-run fifth effectively ended the drama before Mexico could find a way into the game. Pasquantino homered again in the sixth and hit his third shot in the eighth to stretch Italy’s lead to 8 to 1.

On the mound, Italy got exactly what it needed from Aaron Nola, who threw five shutout innings and made sure the lineup’s early damage mattered.

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Italy’s win came in front of 39,894 fans in Houston, with the atmosphere tilted heavily toward Mexico. That didn’t change the scoreboard, and it didn’t slow Italy’s run through the pool. Italy scored at least eight runs in each of its final two games, beating the United States and Mexico back-to-back to close out group play undefeated.

With Pool B settled, the bracket is set for both teams in Houston.

Team USA will face Canada in the quarterfinals Friday at Daikin Park. The expected pitching matchup is Logan Webb for the United States against Michael Soroka for Canada. Canada won Pool A after climbing out of the group with back-to-back wins over Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Italy stays in Houston as well. The Italians will play Puerto Rico on Saturday night for a spot in the semifinals.

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The Wednesday result also put a bow on one of the stranger 48-hour sequences of pool play: the United States lost a game it didn’t expect to lose, then advanced anyway because the team that beat it went on to win the pool and remove every tiebreaker headache.

For Italy, the story is cleaner. A perfect pool, a historic three-homer night from the captain, five shutout innings from the ace, and a quarterfinal date that arrived without any help required.

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