The Toledo Mud Hens just flat-out went off, dropping a ridiculous 10 runs across the fourth and fifth innings to lock down a 4-2 series victory against the St. Paul Saints. Jace Jung blasted his 20th home run of the season, a monster grand slam that instantly piled five RBIs onto his stat line and basically put the game out of reach. This Mud Hens squad absolutely came alive when it mattered most.
Offense Explodes After Early Struggles
It wasn’t all smooth sailing early on. St. Paul actually jumped out to a brief 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and the Mud Hens had chances in the second and third innings but kept running into inning-ending double plays. One of those even saw Josue Briceño double off second and leave the game with what looked like a twisted ankle. Talk about frustrating! But then the fourth inning hit, and it was like a dam broke. John Peck and Max Anderson singled, and a throwing error on Cal Stevenson’s sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. Seby Zavala ripped a double to left that brought in two, and Jung followed with a groundout that scored Stevenson. Max Burt kept the rally going with an RBI double before advancing on a wild pitch and scoring on a passed ball during Riley Greene’s walk, making it 5-1. St. Paul tried to rally in the bottom half, cutting the lead to two after Kala’i Rosario homered and Ian Daugherty added an RBI single.
But the Hens weren’t done, not by a long shot. The fifth inning was pure fireworks. Peck led off with another single, Anderson walked, and Zavala got his third hit of the night to load the bases yet again. You know what happened next, right? Jung stepped up and hammered his grand slam to left, clearing the bases and giving Toledo a huge cushion. Burt walked, Greene singled to move him to third, and Trei Cruz delivered an RBI single to stretch Toledo’s lead to a dominant 10-3.
Riley Greene Showing Off the Pop, Pitching Holds On
While Jung was busy being a hero, Riley Greene was making his own statement in his second rehab game. He went 1-for-2 with two walks, getting on base three times after an 0-for-4 Saturday. That fifth-inning single? It absolutely screamed off his bat at 110.7 mph. That was the hardest-hit ball of the entire game, a true laser back up the middle. Talk about a statement for a guy getting back into game shape!
On the mound, Sawyer Gipson-Long got the start for the Hens. He wasn’t exactly lights out, giving up a solo shot in the first, but only allowed three runs on five hits and three walks over 3 2/3 innings, striking out six. His slider was particularly nasty, generating eight whiffs on 13 swings. His four-seamer was a little below his season average at 90.8 mph, but the offense picked him up big time. Nick Sandlin finished the fourth and started the fifth, giving way to Ty Madden, who worked through the sixth, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out two. Hayden Minton surrendered a couple of solo homers later on, but by then, the game was well in hand.
This Mud Hens team is showing some serious fight and pop at the plate, securing a big series win. With Jung crushing it and Greene looking absolutely locked in at the plate, you gotta love the energy this squad is bringing every night.
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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