Team USA coach Mark DeRosa (former Blue Jay) didn't know the tiebreaker rules and thought the USA had already clinched a spot in the Quarterfinals. He didn't use any of his good pitchers even as the game started to get out of hand. Italy took a 7-0 lead and the US climbed back in it but still eventually fell 8-6.
Now all Team USA can do is cheer for Italy to beat Mexico or a high scoring game. If Italy wins the US is through but if Mexico wins and scores less than 5 runs the US will be eliminated under 3-way tiebreaker rules.
Team USA scoring 5 runs late gave them a decent shot to still move on but their fate is out of their hands.
Quite the blunder!
Leave it to an American to not know the rules but play anyway
The 3-way tiebreaker rules are dumb (runs allowed divided by defensive outs in head to head games with tied teams) but you would think the team manager would know them or have someone on staff get him up to speed.
I'm guessing they just assumed it wouldn't come down to tiebreakers
sad
Man, I had Italy making it, but figured it would be Mexico they'd knock out. Which could still happen, but is a lot less likely than it once was.
Serious blunder on DeRosa's part (and also anyone he talked to who might have asked why he was not using his good pitchers).
Omg