Carr homers but Mussels drop opener to Lakeland 7-3
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Lakeland, Fla. -- The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell to the Lakeland Flying Tigers 7-3 Tuesday night at Publix Field.
Tied 3-3 in the eighth, Lakeland (57-30, 19-4) strung together three straight hits off of Ivran Romero (3-1) to load the bases with no outs. A sacrifice fly from Stephen Hurustich put Lakeland ahead 4-3. Junior Tilien followed with an RBI single and a Mussels' (39-49, 12-13) error allowed the third run to score, making it 6-3. A fielder’s choice plated the final run of the frame, extending the deficit 7-3.
Lakeland has now won 19 of their last 21 games, including seven in a row, and improved its second half home record to 12-0.
Peyton Carr finished the game with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate. It marked the 11th multi-hit game of the season for Carr and the seventh multi-hit game during his 16 game on-base streak. His hit streak was also extended to nine games.
Mussels starter Eli Jones went 2.1 innings and struck out three Flying Tigers before being relieved by Jakob Hall during the bottom of the third. Hall inherited a man on third with one out and retired both Lakeland hitters he faced to end the frame and close the line on Jones.
Lakeland strung together three straight two-out hits in the fourth off of Hall, taking a 2-1 advantage on a single to center from Junior Tilien.
The Flying Tigers added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Jackson Strong, extending their lead 3-1. Anthony Narvaez, who was activated off the IL prior to the game, made his 2025 debut and spun two innings of one run ball. He retired the final six batters he faced after allowing the first two to reach base.
In the sixth, Carr blasted a game tying two-run homer to left, knotting the game at 3-3. The tie would hold until Lakeland’s outburst in the eighth.
The Mussels return to action today at 6:30 p.m. Christan Becerra (2-1, 2.63) starts for Fort Myers. Coverage begins at 6:20 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.