FSL Fort Myers Mighty Mussels

Mussels Strand 16 Runners, Lose 4-3 to Dunedin

Published on August 1, 2023 under Florida State League (FSL)
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels News Release


DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Mighty Mussels stranded a season-high 16 runners Tuesday, allowing the Dunedin Blue Jays to come back and walk off with a 4-3 victory at TD Ballpark.

The 16 stranded runners set a new season high, as Fort Myers (46-50, 12-19) failed to take advantage of 12 walks and eight hits. The loss drops the Mussels into last place in the FSL West.

Despite the loss, starting pitcher Jose Olivares was outstanding. The Venezuelan right-hander was perfect through three innings and went on to match a career high with 5.2 innings pitched. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits while fanning four. Olivares' fastball averaged 94.2 mph and topped out at 96.

Olivares' fine pitching allowed Fort Myers to jump out to a healthy lead. In a scoreless game in the top of the first, Hernan Perez walked before Danny De Andrade advanced him to third on a double to the right center field fence. Two batters later, Luke Keaschall drove a sacrifice fly to center to put the Mussels up 1-0. After De Andrade stole second base, Rafael Cruz lined a single to left to cap the inning at 2-0.

Still leading by that margin in the second, Perez singled to center with one out. After stealing second, Ricardo Olivar pulled a single to left to extend the lead to 3-0. However, Fort Myers failed to score despite many opportunities after that.

The Mighty Mussels maintained their 3-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth. After a throwing error and a Tucker Toman steal set the table, Roque Salinas ripped a single into right to make it 3-1.

With Fort Myers still leading 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, Olivares retired the first two batters before Toman drew a walk. The next batter was Salians, who pulled an RBI double into the right field corner to make it 3-2.

In the bottom of the seventh, Edward Duran walked before Bryce Arnold pulled a double to the left field wall. J.C. Masson followed with a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game 3-3.

Ricardo Velez (1-1) then entered for the Mussels and struck out the side in the eight before blowing the game in the ninth. After a leadoff walk, a groundout moved Brennan Orf to second. With two outs, Masson smoked a single into center to score Orf and end the game.

The Mighty Mussels will look to even the series at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. RHP Jarret Whorff (2-2, 2.93) will make the start for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Yondrei Rojas (1-1, 5.68) of the Blue Jays. Coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.

Check out the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Statistics

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Florida State League Stories from August 1, 2023


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