Wallner Continues Hot Streak With Home Run, But Saints Fall 5-1

TOLEDO, OH (May 9, 2024) - Coming into Thursday night Matt Wallner was slashing .400/.429/.840, a .440 ISO, and .525 wOBA over his last six games. He only helped those numbers on Thursday night going 2-4 with a solo home run, unfortunately that was the only offense the St. Paul Saints got as they lost 5-1 to the Toledo Mud Hens at Fifth Third Field.

Louie Varland got the start for the Saints and he entered play having allowed just one run in his first 12.0 innings with the Saints, but two guys did the damage against him in his 4.2 innings of work. The Mud Hens grabbed the early lead plating a pair in the second inning. With one out Bligh Madris doubled to the gap in right-center. After a wild pitch advanced Madris to third, Justice Bigbie tripled to right-center scoring Madris making it 1-0. A sacrifice line out from Dillon Dingler gave the Mud Hens a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third back-to-back walks to lead off the inning to Major League rehabber Gio Urshela and Jace Jung proved costly. After back-to-back strikeouts by Varland, Madris made it 3-0 with an RBI single to right as Jung took third. After a stolen base by Madris, Bigbie gave the Mud Hens a 5-0 lead with a two-run single to center. Madris and Bigbie went 4-4 with a double, triple, four RBI, and three runs scored against Varland who went 4.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out eight.

Meanwhile, Detroit Tigers #14 prospect Brant Hurter was strong against the Saints offense. With one out in the second Alex Isola, who entered play on Thursday slashing .314/.405/.543, a .229 ISO, and .409 wOBA over his last 10 games, roped a double to left. Tony Kemp lined a single to right that put runners at the corners. Kemp stole second, but Hurter got back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

In the third, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single to left. He advanced to third on an errant pickoff attempt, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the inning. Hurter went 5.0 shutout innings allowing five hits while walking one and striking out nine, tied for the second most in his career.

Wallner picked up where he’s been over the last six games when he took a change up and crushed it over the right-center field wall for a solo home run, his fifth of the season and fourth in the last seven games, making it 5-1. Wallner went 2-4 with a home run, RBI, and run scored.

The same two teams meet in game four of a six-game series on Friday night at Fifth Third Field at 6:05 p.m. (CT). The Saints send RHP Randy Dobnak (2-3, 5.28) to the mound against Mud Hens LHP Bryan Sammons (4-1, 3.54). The game can be heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM.