The Tarpons tampered with the Mighty Mussels’ weather-filled home opener, scoring five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-3 comeback win.
Southwest Florida’s local baseball team entered tonight’s game with a 1-2 record after losing their opening series against the Palm Beach Cardinals. Fort Myers’ sole win was a 6-4 contest, while in the other two games, they lost by a combined 19-12 runs. They eyed a rebound in front of their home crowd.
Last season, the Mighty Mussels ended their 2024 campaign, missing the postseason with a 66-59 record in the Florida State League West standings. Fort Myers’ last postseason appearance was in 2022, when the team lost in the Florida State League semifinals.
Neither team scored a run, but both got runners on base to start the game. The Tampa Tarpons opened the game with a triple off a fly ball by center fielder Brian Sanchez, to no avail, as designated hitter Engelth Urena, on two outs, got caught swinging to end the top of the first.
The bottom of the inning looked promising for Fort Myers as they had right fielder Byron Chourio and center fielder Yasser Mercedes on first and second base with one out on the scoreboard. However, the Tarpons closed it with a strikeout and a forceout to second baseman Austin Green.
The Mighty Mussels dramatically closed the second inning as second baseman Dameury Pena caught a ball on a steal, and first baseman Aaron Sabato caught a fly ball in foul ball territory over the tarp. This momentum translated into two runs off a ground-rule double by Pena, which allowed designated hitter Peyton Carr and shortstop Angel Del Rosario to score.
The game’s pace picked up after Fort Myers’ two-run second inning. The Mussels and Tarpons went scoreless for the next six frames, with the game being decided by each team’s pitchers.
Mighty Mussels’ starting pitcher Dylan Questad racked up eight strikeouts in the game’s first five innings. He only allowed one hit and one walk. Tampa Tarpons’ starting pitcher Andrew Landry didn’t have the same luck as he allowed two hits, two errors and four strikeouts for two runs through four frames.
However, once both teams sent in their relief pitchers, momentum changed in the Tarpons’ favor, setting up a dramatic ninth inning.
At the top of the ninth frame, the Mighty Mussels went through relief pitchers Zander Sechrist, Liam Rocha, and Devin Kirby, who combined to allow five runs, four errors, five walks, and five strikeouts.
Tarpons Urena’s reach on a fielding error brought in shortstop Rodrick Arias for the team’s first run of the game. On the following at-bat, a single drive to center field by first baseman Parks Harber tied the game up as pinch-hitter Josue Gonzalez came in for the score, 2-2.
Tampa took the lead when Green singled on a ground ball up center field to bring Urena and Harber for a 4-2 lead. Arias drew a walk to bring in Dillon Lewis for the fifth and final run of the top of the frame.
Fort Myers’ Mercedes got caught looking on a throwing error, bringing Del Rosario in for the Mighty Mussel’s third run. However, with bases loaded, a ground out put the hour-long inning to bed.
This is the second straight game the Mighty Mussel’s have given up multiple runs in the ninth inning. In Fort Myers’ 13-10 loss to Palm Beach on April 6, they gave up four runs in the final inning.
The Mighty Mussels will return to Hammond Stadium on Wednesday, April 9, to continue their six-game series against the Tampa Tarpons.
