MIghty Mussels split series with Threshers
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Threshers down Mussels 7-0 in series finale
Clearwater – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell 7-0 to the Clearwater Threshers in the series finale Sunday at BayCare Ballpark.
The shutout loss was the fifth of the season for the Mussels (36-49, 9-12) and secured a series split for Clearwater (44-42, 8-11).
Peyton Carr extended his on-base streak to 12 games and his hitting streak to five games with his single in the second. Damuery Pena extended his on-base streak to 11 games with his walk in the ninth.
The Threshers scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning and led the rest of the way. Kodey Shojinaga roped an RBI single into center field off Mussels' starter Michael Ross (2-4) to give the Threshers a 1-0 lead.
With Fort Myers still trailing by a run in the fourth, Ross allowed a pair of one-out baserunners to reach.
Later in the frame, High-A rehabber Devin Saltiban hit a three-run homer into straightaway left field to extend the Clearwater lead to 4-0.
Ross exited after tossing four complete innings, while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits, and striking out four.
Jakob Hall entered the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, and allowed an unearned run in the frame, giving the Threshers a 5-0 advantage.
In the sixth, Clearwater designated hitter Dante Nori hit a two-run home run to right-center field to push the margin to 7-0.
Ivran Romero relieved Hall in the seventh. He allowed a single while striking out a batter in his only inning of work.
Brennan Oxford came on in the eighth and needed 19 pitches to retire the side in the inning.
Due to the MLB All-Star break, the Mussels will be off until Friday, July 18. The team returns to action that evening against the Daytona Tortugas for the start of a three-game series at Hammond Stadium. First pitch on Friday is set for 7:05 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.
Hill, McNeely lead Mussels to 7-2 win over Threshers
Clearwater – The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels jumped out in front in the first inning against the Clearwater Threshers and never looked back, earning a 7-2 win Saturday night at BayCare Ballpark.
With one out in the first, Byran Acuna singled to left. Byron Chourio was then walked on four pitches by Threshers' (43-42, 7-12) starter Sam Highfill (3-7). Caleb McNeely followed with a three-run blast onto the berm in left-center field to make it 3-0 Mussels (36-48, 9-11). The homer was the third of the season for McNeely and left the bat at 106 mph. It was also the fifth allowed by Highfill in 7.2 innings against the Mussels' offense in 2025.
Twins' No. 13 prospect Dasan Hill kept the momentum going in the bottom of the frame, as the left-hander struck out the side in order to begin his outing. Hill retired the first six men he faced while racking up five early strikeouts across the first two innings of play.
McNeely continued his strong night in the third, when he drove in Yasser Mercedes on an opposite field single to extend the lead 4-0. Mercedes had reached on a walk and stole his 26th base in 26 attempts to move into scoring position. The four RBI represented a new season-high for McNeely.
Clearwater plated their first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning, as TJayy Walton drove in Carter Mathison to cut into the Mussel lead, 4-1.
Hill recorded a pair of outs in the bottom of the fifth, before exiting with a new career-highs of 4.2 innings pitched and 80 pitches. The lefty struck out six and allowed an unearned run in the outing, while not issuing a walk.
The score remained the same until the sixth inning, when the Mussels forced across another trio of runs. McNeely and Blaze O'Saben each walked to begin the frame, setting up an Angel Del Rosario single, which scored McNeely, making it 5-1 Fort Myers.
One batter later, Jose Rodriguez singled to right field to plate O'Saben and extend the lead to 6-1. Del Rosario touched home on a wild pitch later in the inning, pushing the Mussels' margin to 7-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jason Doktorczyk (3-4) allowed a solo homer to John Spikerman, making it 7-2. Two batters later, he issued a walk to Juan Villavicencio. That free pass snapped a streak of 18 innings without a walk by Mussels' pitching, which dated back to the fifth inning of Thursday’s game.
Doktorczyk retired eight in a row from the sixth to the ninth inning and struck out four straight Threshers before Brady Day singled against him to snap both streaks. He tossed 4.1 innings of one run ball while allowing just two hits.
Del Rosario, Becerra power Mussels past Threshers, 4-1
Clearwater – Angel Del Rosario's three-run, inside-the-park home run and Christian Becerra's strong night on the mound pushed the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels past the Clearwater Threshers 4-1 Friday night at BayCare Ballpark.
Mussels' (35-48, 8-11) starter Christian Becerra (2-1) spun a season high five complete innings and allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out three and not issuing a walk. He threw 36 of 49 pitches for strikes. The right-hander ended his outing by retiring five straight Threshers' hitters.
Clearwater (43-41, 7-11) struck early, plating a run in the home half of the first inning. TJayy Walton deposited a triple into the right field corner with one out in the frame. Juan Villavicencio was the next batter, and he drove in Walton with a sacrifice fly to give the Threshers a 1-0 lead.
Fort Myers was held scoreless through the first four frames of the contest, but broke through in the fifth.
Daniel Pena drew a walk to lead off the inning, and advanced to second after a single from Peyton Carr to put two on with no outs. Carr extended his on-base streak to 11 straight games with the base hit.
Carr was retired at second as Blaze O'Saben reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners at the corners with one out.
Angel Del Rosario then lashed a line drive to left field that got to the wall after Clearwater left fielder Walton couldn't come up with the diving catch. Walton attempted to play the ball, despite it getting stuck under the padding, while Del Rosario raced all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park homer, giving the Mussels a 3-1 advantage. His three hits on the night marked a new season-high for Del Rosario.
Pitcher Julio Bonilla made his season debut in the sixth inning, striking out a batter and facing the minimum in the frame.
Bonilla retired the first two batters in the seventh before surrendering back-to-back two out hits to end his night.
Zander Sechrist came out of the Mussels' bullpen, striking out Threshers' first baseman Raider Tello looking to escape the jam.
Fort Myers added on in the top of the eighth inning, extending their lead to 4-1 after Del Rosario singled and later scored on a passed ball.
Ruddy Gomez entered in the ninth, retiring the side to earn his fifth save in as many chances this season.