Dobnak Dominates, Severino Homers, Saints Win 3-1 Over Mud Hens

TOLEDO, OH (May 10, 2024) - Randy Dobnak’s 5.29 ERA entering Friday night was a little deceptive. He has pitched well this season, but in a couple of outings he was bit by one inning. Against the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field, he made sure there weren’t any issues in any innings. He hurled 6.0 shutout innings, Yunior Severino provided all the offense, and the Saints finished two outs shy of a shutout in a 3-1 win. The win improved the Saints to 15-20 on the season.

With one out in the bottom of the second Dobnak walked Bligh Madris and gave up a single to Dillon Dingler putting runners at first and second. Back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning.

After not collecting a hit in the first three innings the Saints finally cracked through in the fourth against former Twins farmhand Bryan Sammons. Anthony Prato led off the inning with a single to right. With two outs Alex Isola reached on an infield single to third. That brought up Severino who deposited one over the left field wall, his fifth of the season, giving the Saints a 3-0 lead.

The Mud Hens tried to answer in the bottom of the inning as Buddy Kennedy reached on an infield single to third. After catcher’s interference put runners at first and second, Dobnak got a pair of flyouts to center to end the inning.

Things got a little dicey in the fifth, but Matt Wallner preserved the shutout up to that point. With one out Parker Meadows dropped down a bunt single to the right of the mound. Dobnak’s throw to first went into foul territory and Meadows took second on the error. Major League rehabber Gio Urshela singled to right and Meadows tried to score, but Wallner threw a laser to the plate to get the out. The inning ended when Dobnak struck out Justice Bigbie. Dobnak went 6.0 shutout innings allowing five hits while walking two and striking out seven.

Ryan Jensen came into the game in the seventh for the Saints and danced around trouble. With one out Riley Unroe walked and Andrew Navigato doubled him to third. Jensen then struck out Meadows, but walked Keston Hiura to load the bases. Jensen came back to strike out Bigbie to end the inning.

Hobie Harris pitched a perfect eighth while striking out two.

The shutout ended in the ninth with Diego Castillo on the mound. Dingler led off the inning with a double to right-center. With one out Navigato hit a ground ball to third, but Prato bounced the throw past Severino allowing Dingler to score and sending Navigato to second making it a two run game. Castillo was no worse for the wear as he got Meadows to ground out and Hiura to pop out to end the game and earn his fourth save of the season.

The same two teams meet in game five of the six-game series on Saturday evening at 4:05 p.m. (CT). The Saints send RHP David Festa (0-1, 3.75) to the mound against Mud Hens RHP Matt Manning (1-0 3.79). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.