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FORT MYERS -- The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels lost 7-6 to the Clearwater Threshers in 10 innings in the opening game of their series Tuesday night at Hammond Stadium.
Clearwater (55-47, 19-17) tallied a pair of runs in the top of the first against Fort Myers (45-56, 18-19) starter Christian Becerra. Nate Humphreys and TJayy Walton each drove in a run to give the Threshers an early 2-0 lead.
The Mussels cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the frame, as Yasser Mercedes doubled home Dameury Pena to make it 2-1 Clearwater.
That score remained until the bottom of the third inning. Marek Houston and Pena both singled to begin the frame, before Mercedes reached on a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with one out. Eduardo Beltre then also reached on a fielder's choice, which plated Houston and tied the contest 2-2.
Clearwater responded immediately, as they scored in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Luke Davis to regain the lead at 3-2.
Becerra finished four complete innings before exiting and giving way to Double-A rehabber Kyle Jones. Becerra fanned three and gave up three runs on four hits across his four innings of work.
Jones worked around a pair of walks in a scoreless fifth, which marked his first appearance of the 2025 campaign.
Tyler Stasiowski worked the sixth and allowed a run, as the Threshers extended their advantage to 4-2.
In the bottom of the inning, the Mussels' Enrique Jimenez drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Ryan Sprock. With two outs in the frame, JP Smith II hit his first professional home run to tie the game 4-4. The homer traveled 405 feet at 103 mph off the bat of Smith II.
The Mussels snatched their first lead of the night in the home half of the seventh. Houston began the inning with a double and then stole third. Mercedes drew a walk ahead of Beltre, who reached on an error by Clearwater shortstop Nolan Beltran. The error allowed Houston to score and gave Fort Myers a 5-4 lead.
Houston finished the night with three hits, marking his second multi-hit effort in four professional games.
Brent Francisco worked 1.2 scoreless innings and gave way to Julio Bonilla with two outs in the top of the eighth.
Bonilla got the final out of the eighth and retired the first two batters in the top of the ninth. Clearwater mounted a two out rally to again tie the game, this time at 5-5 to send it to the bottom of the ninth.
Anthony Narvaez allowed a pair of runs in the top of the 10th inning, as Clearwater retook the lead 7-5.
Sprock cut the lead to 7-6 with his first professional RBI in the bottom of the 10th. His single to center allowed Mercedes, the automatic baserunner, to score.
Tuesday was the Mussels fourth extra inning game in their past seven contests.
The Mussels continue their series against the Threshers at Hammond Stadium today, as Jason Doktorczyk (3-5, 5.25) toes the rubber for Fort Myers. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m., with coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.