Espresso shots, pricier wine and an unbeaten Italy now bound for the WBC semifinals

HOUSTON (AP) — Warm up the espresso machine and chill the wine, Italy is heading to the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

The Azzurri continued their perfect WBC run with an 8-6 win over Puerto Rico Saturday to earn their first trip to the semifinals.

“It’s amazing,” Italy manager Francisco Cervelli said. “This is great. This is one of the best chapters of my life. It’s incredible. This group, it’s phenomenal.”

They advance to Miami to face defending champion Japan or Venezuela on Monday night.

Italy didn’t homer Saturday after hitting a dozen through its first four wins — and downing espresso shots after each dinger. But its offense still packed enough of a jolt to send the Puerto Ricans home after they had made the quarterfinals for a sixth time.

Just as they have after every victory in this tournament, Italy celebrated with celebratory bottles of wine in the clubhouse postgame. The bottles have gotten nicer with each victory, with the first ones costing around $20 and more than tripling in price since then.

“There were some special bottles of wine today,” first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino said with a smile.

Saturday’s victory came after Italy handed the United States a surprising 8-6 loss in pool play The Azzurri followed with a 9-1 defeat of Mexico that provided the help the Americans needed to reach the quarterfinals.

Cervelli and the players credited the win over the U.S. as the confidence boost this team needed in this history-making run.

“The key was the victory against USA,” Cervelli said. “Those guys beat one of the best teams in the world, best players in the world. Now they’re gonna believe.”

Italy’s success in this tournament is huge for a country in which baseball isn’t nearly as popular as it is in many of the countries competing in the WBC.

“I don’t think it would be hyperbole to say this is the best day in Italian baseball history,” Pasquantino said.

The team has received some criticism because most of the roster is comprised of Italian-Americans, many of whom have never even been to Italy. The players have heard that and brushed it off, saying getting a chance to represent Italy in this tournament has helped them grow closer to their heritage.

“I’m just trying to take in as much as I can because I know that there’s a lot of people that are upset that we represent Italy, being Italian-American, but I take so much pride in it because it is my roots,” Pasquantino said. “My family came over for a better life to America and, I honestly don’t have any issue representing those members of my family and it’s just super cool to be given this opportunity from these guys.”

Andrew Fischer, who drove in two runs in Saturday’s victory, grew up on the Jersey Shore and is fiercely proud of being from New Jersey and of his Italian heritage.

He’s so proud being from New Jersey that he has multiple tattoos on his left arm paying homage to the state. While the tattoos are meant to highlight his home state, prominently featured in that ink is one of the most famous Italian Americans of all: Frank Sinatra.

Fischer already felt close to his Italian roots before the WBC but says this experience has enhanced that feeling.

“Being here and representing it definitely has brought some light to it in my life,” he said.

Now these plucky players will try to keep their undefeated run going and continue to impress the people in the country they represent.

“The level of confidence it’s growing and growing and growing,” Cervelli said. “We've got to stay humble, concentrate and do what we know that’s it. Play our game.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Italy's Andrew Fischer celebrates after hitting a two-run double during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Italy's Andrew Fischer celebrates after hitting a two-run double during the fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against Puerto Rico, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Italy catcher JJ D'Orazio celebrates a victory over Puerto Rico following a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

Members of team Italy celebrate a victory over Puerto Rico in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Trainer Chad Brown got the scary call last fall that Always a Runner had a serious case of pneumonia, something that would keep her from racing as a 2-year-old.

“This filly was struggling,” Brown said. “Her career was really up in the air.”

After more than a month in a veterinary clinic and treatment with a hyperbaric chamber, she began her racing career in February. On Friday night, Always a Runner showed her toughness once again by winning the Kentucky Oaks against some of the best 3-year-old fillies around in the 152nd edition of the race and the first run under the lights in prime time at Churchill Downs.

“This filly is very resilient, very tough,” Brown said after winning the Oaks for the first time. “She didn’t have to be here today. She didn’t have to run again. She could have never run, easily. I’ve had it happen with several horses. The fact that not only did she overcome it and ended up here today as an undefeated horse in the Oaks is just remarkable.”

Ridden by Jose Ortiz, Always a Runner made a move around the final turn and needed every bit of the stretch to pass Bob Baffert’s Explora and and Michael McCarthy’s Meaning before the finish line of the 1 1/8-mile race.

Meaning was second by 1 1/4 lengths and Counting Stars third. Always a Runner finished in 1:48.62 and paid $13.04 to win, $7.46 to place and $5.44 to show.

“We were there every step of the way,” McCarthy said. “Kudos to Chad, that filly came running. We were second best.”

Always a Runner impressed Ortiz, who had never ridden her in a race before the Oaks — just a morning workout. She's now 3 for 3.

“Chad was very confident in her,” said Ortiz, who won five races on Friday at Churchill Downs. "He knew what he had. He told me, ‘Just go out there, get to know her in the work and you’re going to feel like a sports car, like she’s a Ferrari.’ And he was right. I loved the way she worked, and here we are. We won.”

Brown will try to pull off the Oaks- Kentucky Derby double on Saturday with Emerging Market, who also had pneumonia as a 2-year-old and has only raced twice. He has also never won the Derby.

“I stick with things that are working," Brown said. “So, two starts, we should be good.”

The first night Kentucky Oaks was one for the history books, but also took place in front of large swaths of empty seats. Many of the 100,000-plus fans who filled the grandstand and the track from the late morning through the afternoon had departed before sunset. The Oaks has typically been run before 6 p.m.

“For me it’s just a very long day,” Ortiz said. “It was just amazing. Good vibe. It’s for the public. If they have fun, it’s good to me.”

Brown lamented not being able to get presented with the trophy in the infield, the tradition for the Oaks and the Derby that was moved to the paddock because of the time. Other than that, he had no complaints.

“It was a really cool experience, and it’s nice to utilize this facility with the lights and all and I would definitely do it again. Obviously, my horse ran terrific,” Brown said. “(The ceremony) was the only negative. Everything else about it was an incredible experience today with this post time.”

AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Always a Runner, front left, ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks followed by Meaning (5) ridden by Juan J. Hernandez horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Always a Runner (9) ridden by Jose L. Ortiz wins the 152nd running of the Kentucky Oaks horse race at Churchill Downs, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)