Julien, Morales lead Mussels to doubleheader sweep

June 17, 2021

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 17, 2021) – Edouard Julien and Jeferson Morales each enjoyed three-hit nights, as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels swept the Lakeland Flying Tigers in Thursday’s doubleheader at Hammond Stadium. Julien drove in three runs and scored three runs as the Mighty Mussels (22-17) ran away with

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 17, 2021) – Edouard Julien and Jeferson Morales each enjoyed three-hit nights, as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels swept the Lakeland Flying Tigers in Thursday’s doubleheader at Hammond Stadium.

Julien drove in three runs and scored three runs as the Mighty Mussels (22-17) ran away with a 9-4 win in Game 2. His solo home run in the fifth inning left the bat at 107.9 mph.

Fort Myers racked up 13 hits in just six offensive innings, bookending their night with a pair of three spots.

The Mussels wasted no time jumping on Lakeland (15-23) starter Joseph Salazar (0-2). In a scoreless game in the bottom of the first, Morales singled to right on the first pitch from Salazar. After a stolen base and a walk, Julien sliced a single to left to give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead. After a second run scored on a Yunior Severino ground out, Aaron Sabato singled up the middle to plate Julien and cap the inning at 3-0.

After a Kingston Liniak three-run homer pulled the Flying Tigers to within 5-4, Julien’s home run pushed the lead back to two.

The Mussels finished off the sweep in the seventh, rattling off six straight hits. The rally was highlighted by a 13-pitch at bat by Morales, who eventually lined a single to right.

Right-hander Erik Manoah Jr. struck out four over two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first save in the Twins’ organization.

In Game 1, Misael Urbina struck his first home run of the season – parking a two-run home run to left at 103.3 mph off the bat.

Charles Mack added an opposite field home run in the fourth, his third of the year.

Denny Bentley (3-1) went 3.1 hitless frames to earn the win, striking out five. Steven Cruz also logged 3.1 innings to notch the save, fanning five without walking a batter.

The Mighty Mussels will look to clinch at least a series split at 7pm on Friday. LHP Brent Headrick (2-2, 3.04) makes the start for Fort Myers, opposed by RHP Gio Arriera (1-3, 4.28) of the Flying Tigers. Mighty Mussels Pre-Game Live hits the air at 6:45 p.m.