DES MOINES — A first-inning home run was the catalyst as the Toledo Mud Hens defeated the Iowa Cubs 4-2 on Saturday in the penultimate game of the season.

Justyn-Henry Malloy and Akil Baddoo each walked to open the game, then Eduardo Valencia belted his 13th home run of the season for a 3-0 Mud Hens lead.

That same portion of the lineup did damage in the top of the fifth — albeit just a single run. Malloy doubled to center field, Baddoo’s single advanced him to third, and Malloy later scored when Baddoo swiped third leading to an errant throw by Iowa catcher Carlos Perez.

However, in the bottom of the inning, Iowa got a pair of runs back. James Triantos’ homer made it 4-1. Two batters later, Parker Chavers hit a triple to right, and he scored on Nicky Lopez’s RBI single to make it 4-2.

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