Leo Rivas delivered the decisive hit in the 10th inning, lining a single to center that brought home the winning run in a 6-5 finish. The designated-hitter substitute made his lone plate appearance count, going 1-for-1 with an RBI as the home club improved to 61-68.

What happened

The home side carried a two-run advantage into the late innings but could not protect it. The visitors scored in both the eighth and ninth, erasing the lead and extending a game that had appeared to be under the home club’s control.

That set the stage for Rivas in the 10th. Entering as a substitute at designated hitter, he lined the run-scoring single to center and supplied the final answer in a game that shifted sharply over the closing innings.

Rivas finished with one hit and one RBI in one at-bat. His contribution was brief but decisive, accounting for the run that separated the teams in the 6-5 result.

Why it matters

The victory carried added weight because the home club responded after surrendering its two-run cushion. Allowing runs in consecutive late innings could have turned the game into a damaging defeat, but the winning side recovered in the 10th and moved its record to 61-68.

The visitors fell to 74-55 even though they collected 12 hits. Their late production forced the extra inning, but the larger hit total did not translate into the final advantage once Rivas delivered the deciding swing.

For the home club, the finish offered a measure of resilience after the eighth- and ninth-inning setbacks. It also secured a one-run victory despite two defensive errors and a four-hit deficit.

By the numbers

The winning side scored six runs on eight hits and committed two errors. The visitors finished with 12 hits but were held to five runs, leaving them one short in the final margin.

Rivas raised his batting average to .138 with the 10th-inning single. His 1-for-1 performance gave him an RBI and the game’s defining hit after he entered from the bench as the designated-hitter substitute.

What to watch next

Rivas’ opportunities over the remaining two games of the series bear watching. His average remains at .138, but his impact in this finish provided a clear example of what one well-timed plate appearance can mean.

The immediate question is whether the decisive hit leads to another chance before the series ends. With two games remaining, his usage will be a point of interest after he turned his only at-bat into the winning run.