Ukraine scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings and then completed the improbable comeback with a run in the 11th to claim a 4-3 victory against Russia on Tuesday in Pool B action.
Oleksand TROFYMENKO tossed a complete game seven-hitter to get the win. The 27-year-old lefty walked seven and struck out 11 hitters to help Ukraine deny Russia (0-4) it’s first victory.
Russia got a superb outing from starter Vladimir PETROV who pitched seven shutout innings while limiting Ukraine to only three hits. But the Russian pitching staff fell apart at “crunch” time.
Ukraine (1-3) fell behind early as Russia took advantage of PETROV’s control problems – he awarded seven free passes – to score twice in the first. Russia increased the lead to 3-0 in the eight when Alexander NIZOV and Alexander VASILIEV both hit doubles.
The late-inning Ukraine rally began when Yuriy SHVETS was plunked by a Dmitri SEREDENKO errant pitch and was capped off by Artem PALAMARCHUK’s two-run double that knotted the score at 3-3. PALAMARCHUK drove in the winning run two innings later with a sacrifice fly.
Serhiy TYKHONETS led the Ukraine offensive charge going 3-for-5 while VASILIEV had three hits andAndrey KRIPOCHIN and NIZOV both added a pair of hits for the Russians in a losing effort.
Russia (0-4) will face Italy (2-2) in Pool B action on Wednesday and Ukraine (1-3) will battle Great Britain (3-1).