World No. 28 Russia upsets No. 16 Czech Republic to win Prague Baseball Week
Hosts Czech Republic tied the championship game in the ninth, but Russia scored four in the 10th inning, to win the contest, 9-5. Luis Valiente named the tournament MVP.
World No. 28 Russia defeated No. 16 Czech Republic, 9-5, in the final of the 39th edition of the Prague Baseball Week, the only international tournament on the 2020 European baseball calendar.
The Czech Republic took an early 4-0 lead, behind starter Jan Novak, but Russia bounced back against Czech reliever Boris Bokaj.
The Czechs tied the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the ninth, but left the bases loaded, sending the game into extra innings.
Russia made the most of shaky Czech defence with a triple by Luis Valiente, as Russia added four runs in the 10th. The Czech Republic -- despite the WBSC international tie-break rule which places runners on first and second base to begin the inning -- scored no runs in the bottom of the 10th.
Junior Valiente was named the MVP of the Prague Baseball Week. His teammate Knostantin Porkhnun earned best pitcher honours, while Czech Republic's Marek Chlup was named the best hitter.
