HOUSTON, Texas — Two former New York Yankees catchers who once shared a clubhouse in the Bronx came together Tuesday night to engineer one of the biggest upsets in World Baseball Classic history. And they did it against a roster full of All-Stars, including the captain of their old team.
Italy stunned Team USA 8-6 at Daikin Park in a WBC Pool B showdown that left the Americans scrambling to figure out whether they will even advance to the knockout round. The loss dropped the United States to 3-1 in pool play while Italy improved to 3-0 heading into Wednesday’s finale against Mexico.
The final image of the night was painful for Yankees fans. Aaron Judge, the Team USA captain and three-time AL MVP, stepped to the plate with two outs in the ninth inning representing the tying run. He struck out swinging to end it.
Cervelli and Posada bring championship DNA to Italy
Behind the stunning result were two men who know what it takes to win at the highest level of baseball. Francisco Cervelli, the 40-year-old former Yankees catcher, manages Team Italy. Jorge Posada, the five-time All-Star and four-time World Series champion with the Yankees, serves as his assistant hitting coach.
The two shared a clubhouse in the Bronx from 2008 to 2011. Posada was the veteran starter. Cervelli was the young backup learning the craft behind one of the best catchers in Yankees history. Cervelli earned a World Series ring as part of the 2009 championship team.
When Cervelli was named Italy’s manager in January 2025, replacing Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, Posada was the first person he called. It took the legendary backstop just five minutes to call back and accept.
Posada’s motivation was simple. He wanted to give back to the game alongside a lifelong friend.
Their bond runs deep. Cervelli learned the position from Posada during those early years in pinstripes. Now the two are building something together on the international stage, injecting championship experience into a program that has long been viewed as a WBC underdog.
Italy jumps on Team USA early and never lets go
The Azzurri wasted no time making a statement. Starter Michael Lorenzen blanked the loaded USA lineup through 4.2 innings, mixing seven different pitch types and keeping the Americans off balance with masterful command. He departed only after reaching the WBC pitch limit of 65.
Kyle Teel, a 24-year-old White Sox catcher from Mahwah, N.J., got Italy on the board with a solo homer in the second inning off Mets rookie Nolan McLean. Sam Antonacci followed with a two-run blast in the same frame to make it 3-0. Jac Caglianone added a solo shot in the fourth to push the lead to 5-0.
An error by reliever Brad Keller in the sixth inning opened the floodgates for three more Italy runs, stretching the advantage to 8-0. What looked like a potential double-play ball instead rolled away, and Italy made the Americans pay.
Team USA mounted a late rally. Pete Crow-Armstrong belted two home runs, and Gunnar Henderson added a solo shot to cut the deficit to 8-6. But Italy’s bullpen held firm, and Judge’s ninth-inning strikeout sealed the WBC shocker.
What it means for Team USA and the WBC knockout round
Despite the loss, Team USA is not yet eliminated from the WBC. The Americans finished pool play at 3-1 and now must wait on the result of Wednesday’s Italy-Mexico finale to learn their fate.
If Italy beats Mexico, the path is simple. Italy wins Pool B, Team USA advances as the second-place team, and Mexico goes home. But if Mexico wins, all three teams will be tied at 3-1, and WBC tiebreakers will determine which two advance.
The tiebreaker criteria, in order, are: head-to-head record among tied teams, runs allowed per defensive out, earned runs allowed per defensive out, highest batting average in games between tied teams, and finally a draw. Entering Wednesday, the United States has allowed 17 runs in pool play, Italy 10 and Mexico seven. Those numbers could work against the Americans.
A lesson from the Bronx, delivered in Houston
For Cervelli and Posada, the victory was more than a WBC pool-play win. It was proof that the culture they are building can compete on the world stage. Cervelli played for Italy in the 2009 and 2017 WBC tournaments as a player. He founded a youth baseball academy in Tuscany last year. He relocated to Italy in early 2025 to immerse himself in scouting and player development.
Posada, meanwhile, brought his postseason experience to every preparation session. As a hitting coach, he provided what he has described as “another set of experienced eyes” for a young Italian lineup that features a mix of MLB talent and top prospects.
The result was an Italian team that played loose, confident and fearless against a star-studded American squad that was favored by 5.5 runs. Two ex-Yankees built it. And on Tuesday night, they watched it shock the WBC.
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