Vilade's 9th-inning fireworks give Mud Hens holiday win

COLUMBUS — With the Toledo Mud Hens down to their last out in the top of the ninth, Ryan Vilade changed the game with one swing.

The left fielder’s grand slam gave the Mud Hens the lead with their first runs since the first inning, and a clean bottom of the ninth wrapped up a 5-3 Independence Day win over the Columbus Clippers at Huntington Park.

Toledo’s only other run also came with two outs as Parker Meadows led off the game with a walk in the first inning before stealing second. After two batters struck out, Dillon Dingler delivered an RBI single for the 1-0 lead.

The Hens (40-44) struggled for the next several innings against Columbus pitching. Starter Joey Cantillo went 3⅔ innings, allowing one run on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Toledo totaled five hits across the first eight innings.

Ty Madden pitched five scoreless innings for the Mud Hens, but the Clippers got to him in the sixth. Kyle Manzardo walked, Estevan Florial hit a one-out single before stealing one of his three bases on the afternoon, and Bryan Lavastida followed with a three-run home run to put Columbus in front.

Madden finished out the inning and exited with three runs allowed on five hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Mason Hickman pitched the ninth inning for Columbus in a save opportunity but got into trouble quickly as Alvaro Gonzalez doubled, Meadows singled, and Justice Bigbie was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Hickman recovered by striking out Spencer Torkelson and pinch hitter Bligh Madris to move the Clippers to the brink of victory.

With the game on the line, Vilade took one ball and one strike before launching his decisive grand slam to center field. Devin Sweet retired Columbus in order in the bottom half to earn the save.

Columbus (37-47) and Toledo have two wins apiece this week after the Clippers took two of three at Fifth Third Field from Monday-Wednesday. The teams meet again at 7:05 p.m. Friday in Columbus with Toledo’s Brant Hurter set to pitch against Columbus’ Triston McKenzie.