FORT MYERS – The Mighty Mussels came out swinging in the first inning against Jose Davilla and jumped ahead 5-0 to end a three game losing streak, defeating the Palm Beach Cardinals 8-6 at Hammond Stadium.

Davilla (1-1) entered the game with an ERA of 0.00 across 15.1 innings before the Fort Myers’ (8-12) offense ambushed him for five runs on five hits in the opening frame.

Maddux Houghton led off the game with an opposite field single. AA rehabber

Aaron Sabato followed with a walk and Rayne Doncon singled to load the bases with nobody out.

Brandon Winokur put the Mussels in front with a two-run single to left to make it 2-0 Mighty Mussels. Jose Rodriguez followed Winokur with a sacrifice fly to left, making it 3-0 Fort Myers. The next two batters, Gregory Duran and Wilfri Castro connected on back-to-back doubles to put the Mussels ahead by five.

The Cardinals (13-7) answered back in the third inning, scoring three runs (two earned) off of Paulshawn Pasqualotto, cutting the Mussels’ lead to two. Pasqualotto ended up going four innings, scattering nine hits while limiting the Cards to just the three runs.

Still leading 5-3, Winokur led off the bottom of the third and shot an opposite field single through the right side of the infield. Two batters later, Duran slapped a single the other way, advancing Winokur to third. The next batter was Wilfri Castro, who connected on an RBI single to left to make it a 6-3 game.

The Cardinals added a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Fort Myers’ lead to one.

Houghton led off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Two batters later, Doncon registered his second hit of the game to put two aboard for the Mussels. Rodriguez continued his torrid stretch at the plate with a two-RBI double down the right field line, expanding the Fort Myers lead to three.

Mussels’ pitching worked out of trouble all game, as the Cardinals totaled 16 hits but stranded 12 runners on base, going just 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position. Conversely, the Fort Myers offense recorded 13 hits while going 6-for-15 with RISP. Fort Myers smashed five hits with an exit velocity of 100+ MPH, highlighted by two from Doncon at 105.6 and 106.6.

Samuel Perez (1-0) earned the win after tossing two strong innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out two. Julio Bonilla

secured his second save of the season as he recorded the final two outs of the game with the tying run at the plate.

The Mussels dropped the final game of the series Sunday night, 4-0.

The Mussels take to the road to open a series Tuesday at Bradenton at LECOM Park. Gametime is 6:30 p.m.