Early firepower propels Hens to 5-3 win over Cubs

Toledo scored four runs across the first two innings to help pick up the 5-3 win over Iowa at Fifth Third Field on Saturday. Nearly the entire lineup got involved for the Mud Hens as all but one batter recorded a hit during the two-run victory.

After going down 1-0 to the Cubs quickly, the Hens got things going in the bottom of the first when Justice Bigbie hit a grounder up the middle to bring home Justyn-Henry Malloy. Toledo tacked on two in the frame when Ryan Vilade singled in Bligh Madris and Bigbie scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-1.

Eddys Leonard cracked a double to left field in the next inning to score Darius Hill to up the lead to 4-1. It was Leonard’s 10th double of the season.

It stayed that way until the top of the fifth when Iowa’s Jake Hager doubled on a sharp liner to left field that allowed James Triantos and Trayce Thompson to score, making it 4-3 Toledo.

The Hens answered right back, though, as Andrew Navigato hit his 24th double of the season and Riley Unroe scored in the bottom of the sixth to give the Hens the two-run, 5-3 lead that stood for the remainder of the game.

On the season, Navigato is carrying a .279 batting average and an on-base plus slugging percentage of .876. His 103 hits in 105 games leads all Toledo batters.

Former first-overall pick Casey Mize got the start on the mound for Toledo, allowing three runs, three hits, and striking out seven over 4⅔ innings in his second rehab start.

The Mud Hens’ bullpen shut the door on the Cubs, giving up just four hits and no runs in 4⅓ innings of work.

UP NEXT: The Mud Hens will look to split the series when they finish the six-game homestand on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Ty Madden (3-5, 7.97 earned run average in 18 starts) will get the start on the bump for the Hens. In the month of August, the 24-year-old is 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA. In his most recent appearance, he gave up four hits and four runs in 6⅓ innings. A starter for the Cubs has not been announced.