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FORT MYERS -- The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels lost their fourth consecutive game and third straight to the Clearwater Threshers, falling by a 7-6 final at Hammond Stadium Thursday night.
Leading off the second inning, Fort Myers' (46-57, 18-21) JP Smith II pounded a double to right-center, marking his fourth extra-base hit in the series. He then stole third and came in to score on a ground out from Ryan Sprock.
In the top of the third, Phillies No. 5 prospect and Clearwater (57-47, 21-17) center fielder Dante Nori led off with his FSL-leading 11th triple of the season. He came in to score on a Mussels error at the end of the play, tying the game 1-1.
Robert Phelps followed with an infield single. He stole second and then scored on a base hit from TJayy Walton, making it 2-1 Clearwater. Alirio Ferrebus followed with a double, plating Walton and extending the lead 3-1.
In the bottom of the frame, Peyton Carr reached on an error to put a man aboard. Eduardo Beltre then worked an eight pitch plate appearance and bashed a home run onto the left field berm, tying the game 3-3. The homer left the bat of the 18-year-old at 102 mph and was the first of his Low-A career.
Mussels starter Michael Ross saw his consecutive innings scoreless streak end at 17 in the third, but the righty still managed to complete five innings in his outing. It was the sixth consecutive appearance in which he went at least four innings, and the third time he hit five innings in that time. He allowed three runs on seven hits while racking up five strikeouts.
Threshers starter Angel Lizandro went four innings in his 2025 FSL debut. He allowed three runs (two earned) on a pair of hits.
Zack Tukis entered for the Threshers in the fifth. The struck out Marek Houston to begin his out before allowing back-to-back hits to Dameury Pena and Yasser Mercedes. Smith followed with an RBI groundout, putting the Mussels ahead 4-3.
Peyton Carr then singled to center to plate Mercedes and extend the lead 5-3.
Clearwater responded immediately with a trio of runs in the top of the sixth inning against Sam Rochard (0-1).
Luke Davis walked to lead off the inning, and later scored on an RBI fielder's choice by Dante Nori to bring the Threshers within a run at 5-4. One batter later, Robert Phelps dropped a bloop single into shallow right field, scoring Nori and Raider Tello to give Clearwater a 6-5 advantage.
Will Armbruester entered for the Mussels in the top of the eighth and worked around a leadoff single to record a scoreless frame.
The Threshers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to 7-5.
Mercedes singled to leadoff the bottom of the ninth, before scoring on an RBI groundout by Sprock to bring Fort Myers back within one at 7-6. Jayson Bass made his FSL debut as a pinch runner, running for Smith II at second base with two outs. The game ended one batter later on a groundout from Beltre.
The series between the Mussels and the Threshers continues today at Hammond Stadium. Michael Carpenter (0-4, 4.09) will start on the hill 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.