The Toledo Mud Hens fell behind big early and could not complete an improbable rally in a 12-7 loss to the Rochester Red Wings on Saturday at Fifth Third Field.

By the end of the top of the second inning, the Mud Hens trailed 8-0, and by the end of the top of the sixth, Toledo was behind 12-0.

Toledo did get three runs in the bottom of the sixth and four in the bottom of the seventh to make it somewhat interesting but could not get any closer.

Rochester got two runs in the first on an RBI double by Carter Kieboom and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Franmil Reyes.

In the second, the Red Wings broke through for six runs on a 2-RBI double from former Mud Hen Derek Hill, RBI singles from Kieboom and Jake Alu, an RBI groundout by Reyes, and an RBI double from Matt Adams.

Then in the fifth, Drew Millas recorded a sacrifice fly, Hill doubled home Adams, and Darren Baker scored Hill on a single as the Red Wings jumped out to an 11-0 lead.

Millas added another sacrifice fly in the sixth to give Rochester a 12-run cushion.

Toledo staged a mini-comeback beginning in the sixth inning with an RBI double from Michael Papierski, a sacrifice fly from Jermaine Palacios, and a run from Papierski on a wild pitch.

Then in the seventh, the Mud Hens added on with an RBI double from Grant Witherspoon, a sacrifice fly from Donny Sands, and a 2-RBI double from Andrew Knapp.

Rochester starter Wily Peralta (1-4), another former Mud Hen, pitched five scoreless innings to pick up the win. He scattered three hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Toledo starter Ashton Goudeau (1-4) was tagged for eight runs in 1⅔ innings with six hits and two walks.

The teams will play again at 6:05 p.m. Sunday in the final game of their six-game set. Zach Logue (1-3, 4.86 ERA) will take the mound for the Mud Hens against a Rochester starter still to be determined.

First Published May 28, 2023, 3:32 a.m.