Feliz’ walk-off home run lifts Fort Myers in finale

FORT MYERS – Jesus Feliz delivered a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth Sunday, helping the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels defeat the Daytona Tortugas 6-5 and earn a split of the six-game set at Hammond Stadium.

Feliz’ dinger left the bat at 105.5 mph to give the Mighty Mussels (39-33) their third walk-off win of the season.

Fort Myers starter Zarion Sharpe was outstanding, spinning five scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and two walks.

The Mighty Mussels jumped in front early with a two-out rally in the first. After a pair of walks, Feliz pulled a double down the left field line to put Fort Myers on top 1-0. A wild pitch then brought home a second run.

With the Mussels still leading 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Charles Mack cranked a solo home run over the stands in right to extend the lead to 3-0.

Daytona battled back to score a pair of runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Allan Cerda to cut the deficit to 3-2.

The Mussels’ offense walked twice to start the home sixth before Yunior Severino lined a single to left to make it 4-2. The next batter was Keoni Cavaco, who pulled a base hit into left to plate a second run and cap the inning at 5-2 Fort Myers.

The Tortugas rallied for three runs in the eighth to tie the game before Feliz walked it off in the ninth.

After 12 straight home games, the Mussels hit the road for a six-game set with the Clearwater Threshers that was set to start Tuesday. All six games will be broadcast on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network, with Tuesday’s pre-game show beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Box Score: https://atmilb.com/3eU5RV4

Tortugas top Mussels, 4-1

FORT MYERS – Yunior Severino reached base three times and Orlando Rodriguez matched a career high with eight strikeouts, but the Daytona Tortugas toppled the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 4-1 Saturday at Hammond Stadium.

Severino accounted for two of the Mussels’ (38-33) three hits, rocketed at exit velocities of 108.9 and 102.3 mph.

Rodriguez (1-1) battled through five innings in his second start as a member of the Twins’ organization, allowing two runs on five hits. He matched a career high with eight strikeouts, a mark he set while with the Reds’ organization on July 14, 2019 at Grand Junction.

Fort Myers relievers Matthew Swain and Steven Cruz combined for three scoreless innings of relief, each fanning two each while allowing just one hit.

The Tortugas (34-37) took the lead in the top of the second on a two-run home run from Ivan Johnson.

After five straight scoreless innings, The Mussels got a leadoff double from Jeferson Morales to start the eighth. The next batter was Severino, who smacked an RBI single to right to cut the deficit to 2-1.

In the top of the ninth, the Tortugas took advantage of three walks and a single by Allan Cerda to extend the lead to 4-1.

Box Score: https://atmilb.com/3zoUE6C

Cavaco’s heroics not enough in 11-inning loss

FORT MYERS – Keoni Cavaco’s ninth inning heroics proved futile Friday night at Hammond Stadium, as the Daytona Tortugas rallied in the eleventh inning to win 7-5.

With the Mighty Mussels (38-32) trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Willie Joe Garry Jr. drew a one-out walk before Misael Urbina advanced him to third on a single to right.

With two on and one out, Cavaco lined a ball into left. Daytona (33-37) left fielder Ranser Amador charged in and dove for the ball but missed it. It skipped by him and rolled all the way to the fence, allowing two runs to score and tie the game 5-5.

Neither team scored in the 10th, but the Tortugas got back-to-back triples from Garrett Wolforth and Brandon Leyton to take a 7-5 lead in the eleventh.

Mighty Mussels starting pitcher Landon Leach went four innings in his Fort Myers debut. The Twins’ second round pick in 2017 allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits while fanning four. Brad Hanner and Carlos Suniaga (2-2) combined to strike out nine over six innings of relief, but allowed three runs combined.

The Mighty Mussels’ batters struck out 19 times Friday, four more times than their previous season high.

Fort Myers trailed 2-0 in the second inning before Will Holland and Charles Mack both walked to start the inning. The next batter was Jesus Feliz, who ripped a base hit to left to score Holland and cut the deficit to 2-1. Two batters later, Mack came racing home on a foul out by Urbina to tie the game 2-2.

With the game still tied in the bottom of the fourth, Mack and Feliz both singled with one out before Garry Jr. walked to load the bases. Daytona starter Miguel Medrano then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Mack to score and give Fort Myers a 3-2 lead. After a hit by pitch chased Medrano, reliever Juan Abriel struck out back-to-back Mussels to keep the score at 3-2.

The Fort Myers’ bats went quiet after that, failing to pick up a hit over the next four innings.

— Recaps provided by John Vittas