FSL Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Early Mussels' Lead Evaporates in 13-9 Loss to Bradenton

Published on August 8, 2023 under Florida State League (FSL)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Mighty Mussels dropped the series opener with the Bradenton Marauders 13-9 Tuesday after Charles McAdoo went 6-for-6 with two home runs and eight RBI at Hammond Stadium.

Danny De Andrade broke out of a 4-for-42 skid with three hits and four RBI. Rafael Cruz finished the night with four hits and is now 12-for-27 (.444) with six extra-base hits and eight RBI in his last seven games.

With no score in the bottom of the first, Ricardo Olivar doubled to left with one out to set up a De Andrade two-run homer that put the Mussels (49-54, 15-22) up 2-0. The blast landed on the top of the berm in left and left the bat at 105.4 miles per hour for his eigth homer of the season.

With the same score in the top of second, McAdoo launched a homer off the batter's eye in straight away center to cut the Marauders' (59-43, 24-13) deficit to 2-1. After Rodolfo Nolasco walked, Justin Miknis smoked a single to right for his first professional knock. On the same play, Rodolfo Nolasco scored the game's tying run on an errant throw from right fielder Alec Sayre.

Still tied in the bottom of the second, Sayre singled to right with one out. The next hitter was Maddux Houghton, who lined a double to left that scored Sayre to give the Mussels a 3-2 lead. On the play, Houghton advanced to third, and then scored on a passed ball later in the frame to push the lead to 4-2.

Leading off the top of the third, Mitch Jebb singled and Forrester walked to place runners at first and second. With one out in the frame, McAdoo cranked a three-run homer to deep left center that gave Bradenton its first lead of the night at 6-5.

Still leading by one in the top of the fifth, Jebb led off with an infield single to short, and Garret Forrester walked to set up runners at first and second. With one out in the frame McAdoo lined a single to left center to score Jebb and push the lead to two runs. Later in the frame, the Mussels surrendered two consecutive walks with the bases loaded to force in two more to make it 8-4.

In the top of the seventh and eighth innings, Bradenton pushed across three more runs on a two-run home run from Omar Alfonzo and an RBI single from McAdoo.

In the bottom of the eighth, De Andrade singled and advanced to third on an error and grounder. Later in the inning, Rubel Cespedes drove him in with an RBI ground out to second. Later in the frame Nate Baez singled and scored on an RBI double off the wall in right from Jay Harry to make it 11-6.

In the top of the ninth, McAdoo stepped up with the bases loaded and muscled a two-run single to left to cap Bradenton's scoring at 13-6.

The performance marked the first time a Florida State League hitter notched six hits and drove in eight this year. Moreover, he set the Marauders franchise record for hits in a game.

Despite tacking on three more in the ninth on a De Andrade two-run double and Cruz RBI single, the Mussels' comeback fell short.

The Mussels will look to bounce back on Wednesday as they send Juan Mercedes (1-0, 6.52) to the mound to counter Drake Fellows (0-0, 4.91) of the Marauders. First pitch is slated for 7:00 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.

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Florida State League Stories from August 8, 2023


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