The Toledo Mud Hens pulled off one of the craziest comebacks you’ll see on Saturday, erasing a massive six-run deficit before Cal Stevenson crushed a clutch two-run homer in the ninth inning to win it! That wild victory secured their third win in four games against the Iowa Cubs.
From Down Six to Absolutely Electric
Iowa tried to spoil the party early, opening the scoring against Sawyer Gipson-Long in the second inning. But Max Anderson wasn’t having any of it, smashing his 15th home run of the season in the third to tie things up. The Hens had a golden chance to take the lead with the bases loaded in the fourth, but Michael Siani struck out and Trei Cruz grounded into a force out, ending the threat. And oh man, did Iowa make them pay! The Cubs exploded for six runs in the bottom half. Chas McCormick launched a two-run homer, a Trei Cruz error put two more runners in scoring position, and Jordan Nwogu promptly drove both home with a triple. Gipson-Long struck out the next batter but walked Jackson Cluff before Nick Sandlin took over. Justin Dean dropped an RBI bunt single, and Stevenson’s throwing error advanced the runners, with Kevin Alcántara following up with another RBI single to make it a painful 7-1. Woof! Gipson-Long got tagged for seven runs (five earned) on four hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings, striking out three.
But the Mud Hens didn’t flinch. They fired back with six runs of their own in the fifth inning! Jace Jung walked and Anderson singled before James Outman absolutely *annihilated* a three-run homer to right-center. That ball left the bat at 108.3 mph and traveled an estimated 465 feet! Carlos Pérez and Stevenson kept the rally going with consecutive singles, and Justice Bigbie walked to load the bases. Max Burt brought home Pérez with a groundout, and then Cruz redeemed himself, tying the game with a two-run double. Talk about a roller coaster!
Bullpen Dominance and Stevenson’s Heroics
After that wild fifth inning, Toledo’s bullpen absolutely locked it down, holding Iowa scoreless for the final 5 2/3 innings. Sandlin finished the fifth, then Enmanuel De Jesus, Jack Little, and Andre Granillo each threw a scoreless frame. Granillo ultimately grabbed the win, moving to 3-1 on the season, after his clean inning featuring two strikeouts.
And then came the ninth. Bennett Lee opened with a bunt single, setting the stage. Who else but Cal Stevenson stepped up and blasted his ninth home run of the season, a two-run GO-AHEAD SHOT to give Toledo the lead! Tanner Rainey came in for the save, allowing a one-out single but striking out two batters, earning his fourth save of the year. He was absolutely dealing, generating six whiffs on just 14 pitches. What a performance! Stevenson finished 3-4 with that clutch homer, two runs, two RBI, a walk, and a strikeout. Outman had that monster homer, going 1-5 with a run and three RBI. Anderson went 2-5 with his homer, two runs, and an RBI.
Meanwhile, in another game, the Erie SeaWolves proved that scoring a ton doesn’t always guarantee a win. They put up nine runs over the first three innings against the Reading Fightin Phils and still couldn’t come away with a victory, squandering a five-run lead before… well, that’s where the story ends. Man, minor league baseball, right? Never a dull moment, and these games prove you gotta watch every single pitch! What a wild weekend of action!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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