Lares Fans 11 in 4-3 Loss to Dunedin
May 12, 2024 - Florida State League (FSL)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release
FORT MYERS, Fla. - Cesar Lares struck out 11 Dunedin Blue Jays, but the Mighty Mussels fell 4-3 in the series finale Sunday at Hammond Stadium.
The reigning FSL Pitch of the Week, Lares set a new career high in strikeouts across five innings of work, the most in an outing for a Twins minor leaguer this year. Lares had a combined whiff rate of 57% on his slider and curveball.
After Lares struck out the first two batters of the game, Dunedin (14-19) put together a two-out rally against the southpaw. A four pitch walk to Yoangel Aponte set the table for Arjun Nimmala, who crushed a homer to left-center to put the Blue Jays ahead 2-0. Third baseman Manuel Beltre followed with a solo blast to left to extend the lead to three.
Lefty Ross Dunn was solid in his return to the mound, spinning two shutout frames as the first man out of the Mussels' bullpen.
Still trailing 3-0 in the seventh, Fort Myers (13-20) was finally able to crack through against Dunedin reliever Eliander Alcalde. Isaac Pena led off the frame with a hustle double to shallow right field. Gregory Duran, who was activated off the IL prior to the game, shot an opposite field single to left to put men on first and third. Second baseman Payton Eeles followed Duran with a double down the right field line to make it a 3-1 game with runners at second and third. Rayne Doncon drew a walk to load the bases as the first four Mussels all reached in the inning.
Jose Rodriguez then cut the deficit to one as he drove in Duran on a ground out to second. Poncho Ruiz followed with a sacrifice fly to shallow center as Eeles dashed home and avoided the tag from Edward Duran to tie the game.
The Blue Jays manufactured the go ahead run in the ninth with some small ball against Xander Hamilton (3-4). Bryce Arnold led off the inning with a single and advanced all the way to third with some heads up baserunning on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored on a sacrifice fly from Tucker Toman, putting Dunedin in front 4-3.
Fort Myers put the tying run aboard in the bottom of the ninth with two outs on a single from Doncon, but the rally fell short as Rodriguez struck out to end the game.
The Mussels return to action on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. for the start of a 12-game road trip as the team opens its series in Lakeland against the Flying Tigers.
Florida State League Stories from May 12, 2024
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- Lares Fans 11 in 4-3 Loss to Dunedin - Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
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