Cespedes' Clutch Hits Come up Short in 4-3 Extra-Inning Loss

Published on August 5, 2022 under Florida State League (FSL)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Rubel Cespedes delivered a pair of clutch hits late in the game Friday, but the Bradenton Marauders beat the Mighty Mussels 4-3 in 10 innings at Hammond Stadium.

Fort Myers (55-41, 14-18) trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth. Noah Miller led off the inning by reaching second base on a fielding error. After a groundout moved him to third, Cespedes came to the plate with two outs. On the first pitch of the at bat, he lined a base hit into center field to make it 2-2.

After neither team could score in the ninth, Bradenton started the tenth with a bang. Juan Jerez cranked an RBI double to center to put the Marauders on top 3-2. Jerez then stole third before advancing home on a throwing error to make it 4-2.

Trailing by two in the bottom of the tenth, Cespedes once again came to the plate with two outs. With a runner on second, he sliced an RBI double to the wall in left center to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, LaRon Smith grounded out to end the game and seal the Bradenton win.

Mighty Mussels pitcher Johnathan Lavallee was outstanding in his first Low-A start, tossing four hitless innings on just 48 pitches. He struck out two and walked one.

Niklas Rimmel also turned in scoreless work, not allowing a single hit over two innings of relief.

Fort Myers will look to take the lead in a 2-2 series at 7 p.m. on Saturday. RHP Mike Paredes (7-2, 2.19) will get the start for the Mussels, opposed by RHP Joelvis Del Rosario (4-2, 3.61) of Bradenton. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.

Florida State League Stories from August 5, 2022

• Mets Come Back from Down 6, Clip Tortugas in 10 - St. Lucie Mets
• Jerez's Heroics Spark Extra-Inning Win - Bradenton Marauders
• Baylor's Last Minute Blast Beats Tarpons, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
• Creal's Multi-Homer Game Not Enough in Tortugas' Extra-Inning Loss - Daytona Tortugas
• Cardinals Fall on Friday Night - Palm Beach Cardinals
• Cespedes' Clutch Hits Come up Short in 4-3 Extra-Inning Loss - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
• Baylor's Last Minute Blast Beats Tarpons, 1-0 - Tampa Tarpons
• Fireworks, Marvel's Defenders of the Diamond, 'The Nine' Nights Highlight Start of Tortugas' Two-Week Homestand - Daytona Tortugas

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Stories

• Eli Jones Receives Harmon Killebrew Community Service Award
• Mussels, Mets Season Finale Canceled
• Fort Myers Falls, 14-3, to St. Lucie in Penultimate Game of Season
• Carpenter Dominates, Fort Myers Takes Down St. Lucie, 4-1
• Sprock, Daugherty Power Mussels Past Mets 6-3