Tigers prospects launch nine home runs in high-scoring weekend

Toledo erased a six-run deficit Saturday before Cal Stevenson delivered a clutch two-run homer in the ninth to win it. The comeback secured the Mud Hens’ third win in four games against Iowa.

Iowa opened the scoring against Sawyer Gipson-Long in the second, but Max Anderson tied the game with his 15th home run of the season in the third.

Toledo had a 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 to end the threat.

Iowa didn’t waste its chance to go ahead. The Cubs responded with six runs in the bottom half. Chas McCormick launched a two-run homer, and a Trei Cruz error put two more runners in scoring position. Jordan Nwogu drove them 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 in front of Cal Stevenson, whose throwing error allowed the runners to advance. Kevin Alcántara followed with another RBI single to make it 7-1. Woof.

Gipson-Long was charged with seven runs — five earned — on four hits and four walks over 3 1/3 innings. He struck out three.

The Hens answered with six runs of their own in the fifth. Jace Jung walked and Anderson singled before James Outman launched a three-run homer to right-center. The ball left his 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 Cruz tied the game with a two-run double.

Toledo’s bullpen held Iowa scoreless over the final 5 2/3 innings. Sandlin finished the fifth before Enmanuel De Jesus, Jack Little and Andre Granillo each posted a scoreless frame.

Bennett Lee opened the ninth with a bunt single, and Stevenson launched his ninth home run of the season to give Toledo the lead.

Tanner Rainey allowed a one-out single in the final frame but struck out two to earn his fourth save. He generated six whiffs on 14 pitches.

Stevenson: 3-4, HR (9), 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, K

Outman: 1-5, HR (2), R, 3 RBI, K

Anderson: 2-5, HR (15), 2 R, RBI, K

Cruz: 2-5, 2B (17), 2 RBI, K

Granillo (W, 3-1): 1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 2 K

Erie scored nine runs over the first three innings and still couldn’t come away with a victory. The SeaWolves squandered a five-run lead before Reading scored three times in the eighth.

Erie wasted no time getting on the board. Peyton Graham doubled, and Zyhir Hope walked to begin the game. Thayron Liranzo drove in all three runners with his 19th homer of the season.

Carlos Peña couldn’t protect the early lead. Reading notched four singles and took advantage of a Roberto Campos error to score four runs in the bottom of the first. Peña recorded only two outs, allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits and a walk… a rough outing.

The SeaWolves immediately answered with four runs in the second. Luke Shliger tied the game with a leadoff homer, and Seth Stephenson tripled before scoring on a Graham single. Hope followed with a two-run homer to give Erie a 7-4 lead.

Graham and Hope added consecutive two-out RBI hits in the third, extending Erie’s lead to five.

Dariel Fregio gave most of those runs right back in the bottom half. Pedro León opened the inning with a solo homer, and Bryson Ware added a three-run shot with one out to make it 9-8. Fregio settled down after that, finishing 3 1/3 innings with four earned runs allowed.

Yoniel Curet handled a scoreless fifth but gave up consecutive RBI hits in the sixth as Reading took a 10-9 lead. Tanner Kohlhepp prevented further damage and delivered two scoreless innings.

Erie tied the game in the eighth. Shliger walked and advanced to second on a groundout before scoring when pitcher Mavis Graves committed an error on Hope’s grounder.

Wandisson Charles couldn’t hold the tie in the bottom half. A wild pitch on strike three, two singles and a walk loaded the bases before Charles issued consecutive run-scoring walks. Colin Fields entered with two outs and hit Nick Biddison with a pitch, forcing home another run.

Graham: 3-5, 2B (22), 3B (5), 3 R, 2 RBI, K

Hope: 2-4, HR (6), 2 R, 3 RBI, BB

Liranzo: 1-4, HR (19), R, 3 RBI, BB, K

Stephenson: 2-4, 3B (2), 2 R, SB

Kohlhepp: 2.0 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 3 K

Coming Up Next: The regular-season finale is Sunday at 5:15 p.m. ET. Reading leads the series 3-2.

Toledo wasted a strong performance from Austin Gomber in Sunday’s series finale. The Mud Hens scored in the first but managed only four hits as Iowa avoided a second consecutive comeback loss.

Trei Cruz doubled to open the game and advanced to third on a Cal Stevenson single. Jace Jung brought Cruz home with a sacrifice fly, but Toledo stranded Stevenson at third. That would be the Hens’ only run of the day.

Gomber retired the side in order in the first before Iowa took the lead in the second. Chas McCormick singled, and Jordan Nwogu followed with a two-run homer to left.

Those were the only runs Gomber allowed. He completed 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits without issuing a walk and striking out four. Gomber generated 13 whiffs, including seven with his changeup.

Iowa threatened again in the sixth. Greg Jones doubled with no outs but was later out third on a fielder’s choice. Ty Madden replaced Gomber with two outs and allowed a McCormick double, but James Outman threw Owen Ayers out at the plate to end the inning. Good defense, but no offense to back it up.

Madden dominated from there, retiring all seven batters he faced after McCormick’s double. He struck out four over 2 1/3 scoreless innings and generated nine whiffs on 26 pitches.

The Mud Hens loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth after Cruz, Corey Julks and Jung walked, but Outman grounded out to end the threat. Michael Siani singled with one out in the ninth before consecutive strikeouts ended the game.

Cruz: 1-3, 2B (18), R, BB

Stevenson: 1-2, 2 BB, 2 SB

Gomber (L, 2-5): 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K

Madden: 2.1 IP, 0 R, H, 0 BB, 4 K

Coming Up Next: The Mud Hens host the Louisville Bats on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. ET. Toledo won the series 3-2.

Erie’s pitching staff ended the regular season with another ugly performance. Reading scored 17 runs on 16 hits and seven walks, handing the SeaWolves their fourth loss of the series. Hopefully, this is just a saving guys for the playoffs situation.

The teams traded solo homers in the second and third innings. Andrew Jenkins opened the scoring with his 11th homer, and Woody Hadeen put Erie back in front with his second at the Double-A level.

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