Italy secured a stunning victory over the United States, despite the top five hitters in the Italian lineup going a combined 0-for-22 at the plate, according to Jeff Passan.
The monumental win for the Italians shifts the landscape of the tournament and leaves Team USA facing an uncertain path forward. Despite the total lack of offensive production from the top of the order, Italy managed to stifle the star-studded American bats to pull off the upset.
The loss puts the United States in a position where they must wait for external results to determine their advancement. Per Passan, the U.S. squad is now hoping for an Italian victory over Mexico or a high-scoring game in the pool play finale that would allow them to advance via the runs-allowed tiebreaker criteria.
This result marks a significant turn of events for a Team USA roster that entered the matchup as heavy favorites. The team now awaits the conclusion of the remaining pool play games to see if their tournament run will continue.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Sources & Original Reporting
