Mighty Mussels drop two straight in 10 innings
Mussels’ comeback spoiled in extra-inning loss to Clearwater
FORT MYERS – Despite tying the game late with a five-run seventh inning, the Mighty Mussels fell 10-8 in 10 innings Sunday to drop the series with the Clearwater Threshers at Hammond Stadium.
Down by five in the bottom of the seventh, the Mussels (42-42, 8-10) loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. Two consecutive ground ball outs from Rubel Cespedes and Rafael Cruz scored two runs, cutting the deficit to 8-5. With a runner on third and two outs, the next batter was Mikey Perez, who cranked his second homer of the game to left to make it a one-run game. Dylan Neuse followed with a single and then stole second to set up an RBI single for Kyle Schmidt that tied the game at 8-8.
Still tied at 8-8 in the top of the 10th, Cade Fergus was placed on second as the automatic runner and Bergolla led off the inning with a bunt single to place runners at the corners for Clearwater (56-26, 12-5). With Troy Schreffler at the plate, reliever Develson Aria balked to force in the go-ahead run. After two more walks loaded the bases, Justin Crawford dribbled an infield single to shortstop that capped the scoring at 10-8.
In the bottom of the first, the Mussels jumped out to an early lead after Carson McCusker blasted solo homer and Perez launched a two-run dinger to make it 3-0.
Fort Myers starter Andrew Morris (3-1) was solid from there, tossing four scoreless innings while fanning four and allowing one hit.
However, after Clearwater got to the bullpen, the Threshers began to rally in the top of the fifth. After Schreffler walked, Matt Alifano singled to place runners at the corners. With no outs, Kliubert Avila poked a single to left to bring in a run and make it 3-1. After a line out and a single from Crawford, the bases were loaded with one out for Felix Reyes, who belted a grand slam to left field to give Clearwater a 5-3 lead. Later in the inning, Cade Fergus reached on an infield single, then advanced to third on a stolen base and passed ball. William Bergolla extended the rally with a bunt single that scored Bergolla to make it 6-3.
After the Threshers pushed across another run in the sixth, they rallied for more in the seventh. Reyes singled to lead off the inning and later advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bergolla followed with a line-drive single to left that scored Reyes to extend the lead to 8-3 before the Mussels tied it in the bottom of the frame.
Fort Myers will enjoy an off day today before beginning a six-game series with the Bradenton Marauders at LECOM Park on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.
Late Threshers rally takes out Mussels 8-7 in 10
FORT MYERS – Danny De Andrade launched a mammoth two-run homer Saturday, but the Mussels squandered a 4-1 ninth inning lead in an 8-7 loss in 10 innings to the Clearwater Threshers at Hammond Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Mussels (42-41, 8-9) center fielder Dylan Neuse and third baseman Mikey Perez led off with back-to-back walks, advancing to second and third on a balk. Two hitters later, Ricardo Olivar shot a single to center that scored both runners to give the Mussels (43-40, 9-8) a 2-1 lead. The next hitter was De Andrade, who pummeled a two-run homer to deep left center that pushed the lead to 4-1. The ball left De Andrade’s bat at 103.4 miles per hour and traveled 411 feet.
Starter Jarret Whorff (2-0) was stellar for Fort Myers, tossing five shutout innings while allowing two hits and fanning four. He has now allowed just two earned runs over his previous 20.2 innings of work (0.89 ERA).
With no score in the top of the sixth, Emaarion Boyd and Ricardo Rosario singled to place runners at the corners with one out. Bryan Rincon followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Boyd to make it 1-0 Clearwater (55-27, 11-6).
With a 4-1 Mussels lead in the top of the ninth, Gabriel Yanez retired the leadoff hitter before the Mussels turned to Jackson Hicks. Otto Kemp and Cole Moore promptly notched back-to-back singles with one out. Felix Reyes followed with a three-run homer to left that tied the game 4-4.
Still tied in the top of the 10th, Boyd was placed on second as the automatic runner. Justin Crawford followed with a bunt single, and Rosario walked to load the bases. With one out, Otto Kemp cleared the bases with a triple off the left field wall that gave Clearwater a 7-4 lead. Two batters later, Felix Reyes served a sacrifice fly to center to score Kemp and make it 8-4.
In the bottom of the 10th, Neuse was sent to second as the automatic runner. Perez led off the inning with a titanic two-run blast that cut the deficit to 8-6. After Kamron Willman and Ricardo Olivar each singled, the Mussels threatened with runners at the corners and one out. Carson McCusker then sent a high chopper up the middle that led to a 4-6 fielder’s choice, plating Willman to make it 8-7. Rubel Cespedes then worked a full count before striking out swinging to end the game.
The defeat is the Mussels’ first when leading after eight innings. They were previously 31-0.