The Toledo Mud Hens gave a valiant effort in coming back from a four-run deficit, but it was all for naught as the visiting St. Paul Saints marked a run in the top of the ninth inning to earn a 5-4 victory Thursday at Fifth Third Field.

With the loss, Toledo (71-58) has now dropped its third straight in the series to St. Paul (58-69), each coming by two runs or fewer.

In the ninth for the Saints, Aaron Sabato singled and was replaced by pinch-runner Will Holland, then Jose Miranda doubled. Two batters later, a Payton Eeles sacrifice fly scored Holland for the go-ahead and winning run.

In the bottom half for the Mud Hens, they had the tying run on second with one out after Trei Cruz singled and a wild pitch got him into scoring position. But Eduardo Valencia, who hit a three-run home run

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