Arcia’s walk-off single in 10th inning caps RiverDogs’ third straight win

Francisco Arcia’s walk-off single in the 10th inning sealed a 7-6 win for the Charleston RiverDogs over the Savannah Sand Gnats on Tuesday night in South Atlantic League baseball at Riley Park with 2,104 in attendance.

The RiverDogs (42-31 overall, 3-3 second half) have won three in a row after taking the first two games of the four-game series with the Sand Gnats (42-31, 1-5).

The rally that won the game began when Cito Culver reached on an error by second baseman Brandon Brown. Casey Stevenson then beat out a bunt single, bringing up Arcia.

Fred Lewis (4-1), who recorded the final out of the top of the 10th, was credited with the win, while Chasen Bradford (2-1) took the loss.

“That was another great team win,” said RiverDogs manager Carlos Mendoza. “We fell behind early, but the guys never stopped playing hard. Our bullpen kept us in it, we had that big seventh inning and then scratched out a run in the end. Great job by everybody.”

Savannah jumped on RiverDogs’ starter Will Oliver in the first inning to take the early lead. Gilbert Gomez doubled to center to lead off and later scored on a wild pitch. Two batters later, an RBI double by Brian Harrison knocked in a second run.

After going up 3-0 in the third, Yucarybert De La Cruz started the fourth with a single and stole second. He then moved to third on Gomez’s third hit of the night and scored on a fielder’s choice to put Savannah up by four.

Charleston got a run back in their half of the fourth, scoring without the benefit of a hit in the inning. With two on and one out, Gary Sanchez made a heads up baserunning play, tagging up at second and taking third on a flyout. He was then able to score on a balk to cut the deficit to three. Stevenson made the score 4-2 in the fifth when he hit a rocket over the right field fence for his third home run of the season.

Savannah went up 6-2 in the sixth thanks to back-to-back RBI singles by Camden Maron and Lawley, but the RiverDogs were not going to quit. In the seventh, they loaded the bases with nobody out on a walk and two singles. Sanchez worked another walk to force in a run and Dante Bichette Jr. followed with a two-run single back through the middle. When the next batter, Ben Gamel, beat out a fielder’s choice, Sanchez dented home plate with the tying run.

Ballpark fun
Fans at the park were treated to a great Liquid Box T-shirt toss in the eighth inning as shirts were thrown and fired into the crowd from the back of the Liquid Box T-shirt toss truck.

Coming up
The RiverDogs will send right-hander Wilton Rodriguez (1-2, 6.23 ERA) to the mound against Sand Gnats right-hander Logan Verrett (2-1, 2.40 ERA). All seniors who come to the game will receive a voucher for a free hot dog, soda and chips on Senior Wednesday.