Mud Hens fall to Mets on walkoff home run

Syracuse Mets rally late to split series with Toledo Mud Hens

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:48pm

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The Toledo Mud Hens were one out away from a series victory against the Syracuse Mets on Sunday, but a two-run walkoff home run by Mets infielder Jackson Cluff gave the home team a 4-3 win and ended the six-game series in a 3-3 draw.

Why it matters

The Mud Hens and Mets are both in the hunt for a playoff spot in the International League, so this late-inning comeback win could prove crucial in the standings as the season winds down.

The details

With the Mud Hens leading 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Mets prospect Jackson Cluff stepped to the plate and launched a two-run home run over the left field wall to give Syracuse the dramatic victory.

  • The six-game series between the Mud Hens and Mets took place from April 1-5, 2026.
  • The walkoff home run occurred on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Jackson Cluff

A 24-year-old infielder in the New York Mets minor league system who hit the game-winning home run for Syracuse.

Toledo Mud Hens

The Triple-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, who were one out away from winning the series against the Mets.

Syracuse Mets

The Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, who rallied late to split the six-game series with Toledo.

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What they’re saying

“That was a tough one to swallow, but our guys battled all series long. We'll regroup and get ready for the next one.”

— Lloyd McClendon, Manager, Toledo Mud Hens

“I was just looking for a pitch I could drive, and I got one I could handle. It felt good to come through for the team in that situation.”

— Jackson Cluff

What’s next

The Mud Hens will look to bounce back when they return home to host the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders for a four-game series starting on April 7th.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth series between two International League playoff contenders showcased the competitive balance and unpredictability of minor league baseball, where any team can win on any given day.