Eduardo Navas Delivers Walk-Off Hit to Give RiverDogs Win in 13
The hitting woes continued for the Charleston RiverDogs on Friday, however, they got a key hit on this evening that delivered a much needed victory. In the bottom of the 13th, Eduardo Navas delivered a walk-off single to give the RiverDogs the 2-1 win over the Greenville Drive. Adonis Rosa earned the win and Charleston pitchers did not allow a hit in the last five-innings of the game to lead the team to victory.
This game continued the fantastic pitchers’ duel from the prior night. Thursday, Greenville got six shutout innings from Logan Boyd in the Drive’s 1-0 victory, and they looked to get that kind of performance on this night as well. They nearly did.
Bryan Mata started for Greenville, and the RiverDogs jumped in front in the bottom of the first. Estevan Florial led off the inning and blasted his fifth homer to center field to give Charleston the 1-0 lead.
Nick Green started for Charleston and the Drive had their chance against him in the first two innings, but came away empty-handed. Their best chance came in the second when Lorenzo Cedrola singled while Steven Reveles was on second. He rounded third looking to score, but Carlos Vidal’s throw from left was a perfect throw to nail Reveles and keep the RiverDogs in front.
Green left after tossing five shutout innings, allowing 3-hits, 3-walks, and striking out 5. Kolton Mahoney took over in the sixth, but he could not hold the lead. In the top of the sixth, Mahoney struck out the first two hitters of the inning, but his strike out of Tyler Hill went for a wild pitch and Hill reached first. Isaias Lucena reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second when Tucker Tibbs singled. That brought Reveles to the plate, who lined a single to center to score Lucena to tie the score.
The bullpens took over this game from there. Angelis Martinez pitched four shutout innings and Jake Drehoff three for Greenville, keeping this game tied through 10. After giving up the run, Mahoney shut the door, and Garrett Mundell tossed two perfect innings to take the game to the 11th inning.
Adonis Rosa took over for Charleston in the 11th and he was brilliant, allowing a lone walk in three innings of work. Pat Goetze pitched nearly as well but, in the 13th, the RiverDogs finally earned the victory.
Angel Aguilar led off with a single and moved to second on a base hit by Hoy Jun Park. Two batters later, Navas came to the plate, and lined a single to right. Chris Madera fired the throw home, but Aguilar beat the throw to win the game.
Adonis Rosa (3-0) pitched 3-innings, allowing just 1-walk. Estavan Florial was 2-6 with a run, a homer, and an RBI. Angel Aguilar was 2-6 with a run scored. Lorenzo Cedroia led the Greenville offense by going 2-5 with a double.
The series continues tomorrow. Robby Sexton (0-4, 5.67) goes for the Greenville Drive and Phillip Diehl (5-0, 2.70) looks to remain undefeated for the Charleston RiverDogs. Game time is 6:05.
By Robert Pannier
