Mighty Mussels first half champs
Fort Myers team earns place in postseason playoffs for Florida State League title
FORT MYERS – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels clinched the FSL West First Half Championship with a 6-1 win over the Bradenton Marauders at Hammond Stadium Wednesday.
The Fort Myers franchise has now reached the postseason in four of the last five seasons. The Miracle won the Florida State League Championship in 2014 and 2018.
The Mussels (37-21) rallied for four runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth to take control of Game 2 of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Jake Rucker set up the opportunity by delivering a two-run walk-off home run in Game 1, 5-4. That game was suspended the night before by rain, and continued Wednesday prior to the regularly scheduled game.
In the first game of the doubleheader, Juan Mendez picked up the win in relief and is now 1-2 on the season.
After the Marauders scored three runs in the top of the 5th to grab a 4-2 lead, the Mussels plated one run in the 7th before Rucker delivered his two-run shot in the bottom of the 9th.
In the second, First Half title-clinching game, the Mussels scored four runs in the fourth and then added two more in the sixth to secure the win in the 7-inning contest.
Kala’i Rosario led the offense for Fort Myers with a two-run home run in the 4th, adding another hit and RBI later in the game. Rubel Cespedes added a pair of hits and scored two runs.
Jordan Carr earned the pitching win, tossing three-hit ball for five innings and allowing just one run while striking out five and walking only 1.
The Mussels clinched the title with seven games remaining in the half, proving to be wire-to-wire leaders in the six-team FSL West.
The Mighty Mussels are now set to play a best-of-three series with the FSL West’s Second Half Champions from Sept. 13-15.
Thursday night the Mussels were set to send Travis Adams (4-2, 2.40 ERA) to the mound in game 3 of the series against the Marauders. The series with Bradenton (26-33) continues tonight with additional games set for Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, all at Hammond Stadium at the Lee County Sports Complex.