Columbus Clippers walk off against Mud Hens in 4-3 comeback victory

COLUMBUS — Jose Tena’s two-out solo home run to right field completed the home team’s comeback, as the Columbus Clippers defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 4-3 on Friday night at Huntington Park.

The Clippers outscored the Mud Hens 4-1 over the final four innings after trailing 3-0.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Toledo went to relief pitcher Sean Guenther who struck out both Micah Pries and Christian Cairo. However, the third batter Guenther faced, Tena, took him deep to right field for his 15th home run of the season, securing the victory for the Clippers. Guenther suffered the loss to drop to 3-1.

The Hens went ahead 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning by way of Dillon Dingler’s 11th homer of the year.

Toledo (40-45) added a run in the fifth off Columbus starter Triston McKenzie — who was demoted by the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday. Stephen Scott led off with a double, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored via Justice Bigbie’s sacrifice fly to center field to extend the Hens’ lead at 2-0.

Javier Baez, making a rehab stint while working his way back to Detroit, made it 3-0 with a solo homer in the sixth. Columbus (38-47) responded in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Manzardo got the threat started with a double, then Myles Straw’s two-out single brought home Manzardo.

Toledo went to its third reliever, Andrew Magno, in the seventh. He allowed the first three batters to reach on a pair of singles and a walk, followed by Juan Brito’s sacrifice fly that scored Pries. Later, a Manzardo ground out brought home Cairo to tie the game at 3.

Anthony Gose, who pitched a scoreless ninth for the Clippers, earned the win.

Columbus now holds a 3-2 edge this week against Toledo. The Clippers took two of three at Fifth Third Field from Monday through Wednesday, and the Hens won 5-3 on Thursday in Columbus.

The teams meet again at 5:05 p.m. Saturday in Columbus.