Cespedes’ Clutch Hits Come Up Short in 4-3 Extra-Inning Loss

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 5, 2022) – Rubel Cespedes delivered a pair of clutch hits late in the game Friday, but the Bradenton Marauders beat the Mighty Mussels 4-3 in 10 innings at Hammond Stadium.

Fort Myers (55-41, 14-18) trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the eighth. Noah Miller led off the inning by reaching second base on a fielding error. After a groundout moved him to third, Cespedes came to the plate with two outs. On the first pitch of the at bat, he lined a base hit into center field to make it 2-2.

After neither team could score in the ninth, Bradenton started the tenth with a bang. Juan Jerez cranked an RBI double to center to put the Marauders on top 3-2. Jerez then stole third before advancing home on a throwing error to make it 4-2.

Trailing by two in the bottom of the tenth, Cespedes once again came to the plate with two outs. With a runner on second, he sliced an RBI double to the wall in left center to cut the deficit to 4-3. However, LaRon Smith grounded out to end the game and seal the Bradenton win.

Mighty Mussels pitcher Johnathan Lavallee was outstanding in his first Low-A start, tossing four hitless innings on just 48 pitches. He struck out two and walked one.

Niklas Rimmel also turned in scoreless work, not allowing a single hit over two innings of relief.

Fort Myers will look to take the lead in a 2-2 series at 7 p.m. on Saturday. RHP Mike Paredes (7-2, 2.19) will get the start for the Mussels, opposed by RHP Joelvis Del Rosario (4-2, 3.61) of Bradenton. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.