Lackey Connects on First Career Home Run, Twins’ Top Picks Go Back-To-Back in Loss
BOX SCORE JUPITER, Fla. (August 21, 2026) - Vahn Lackey connected on his first professional homer and Carson Tinney reached base four times as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell 7-6 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Palm Beach (59-59, 26-26) opened the
JUPITER, Fla. (August 21, 2026) - Vahn Lackey connected on his first professional homer and Carson Tinney reached base four times as the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels fell 7-6 to the Palm Beach Cardinals on Friday night at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Palm Beach (59-59, 26-26) opened the scoring in the bottom of the first off of Matthew Dalquist. After a leadoff single from Ryan Mitchell, Cardinals No. 20 prospect Sebastian Dos Santos homered to right, making it 2-0.
In the second, Isaiah Lane and Jimmy Keenan worked back-to-back walks on full counts from Jan Cabrera. Quentin Young then shot a 106 mph single through the right side to make it 2-1.
The Cardinals added to their lead with a run in the second, making it 3-1.
With one out in the fourth, Minnesota Twins’ No. 2 prospect Vahn Lackey connected on his first professional homer, a 106 mph blast to left center. Twins’ No. 10 prospect Carson Tinney followed with a blast of his own (his fifth) as the top two picks in this summer's draft went back-to-back to tie the game 3-3. It was the third time the Mussels’ (63-53, 26-25) offense has hit back-to-back homers this season.
Vahn Lackey and Carson Tinney go BACK-TO-BACK!!! #MNTwins
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) August 21, 2026
HR No. 1 for Lackey 💣
HR No. 5 for Tinney 💣
Ramiro Dominguez adds a go-ahead double 💪
Bot 4 | FTM 4 - PMB 3 pic.twitter.com/aLwFEpgpfD
After Aidan Teel reached on an error, Ramiro Dominguez doubled to give Fort Myers the lead 4-3.
Dalquist retired seven straight Cardinals across the second, third, and fourth before allowing back-to-back hits to Trevor Haskins and Ryan Mitchell. Mitchell’s knock was a game tying double, knotting the score 4-4. Following the double, Matthew Becker took over on the mound and retired the second batter he faced to close the frame.
Tinney led off the fifth with a walk and advanced to third on a double from Teel off the wall in right. Tinney later scored on a wild pitch to put the Mussels back in front 5-4.
With a runner at third and one out in the bottom of the inning, Dominguez made a nice play on a chopper to cut down the tying run.
Becker exited after 1.1 innings. His season ERA remains at 0.00 across 8.1 FSL innings, with just two hits allowed.
Brent Fransico took over in the sixth and allowed a game tying sacrifice fly from Dos Santos to level the score for the third time.
Tinney led off the seventh with a double down the left field line. A wild pitch advanced him to third and Dominguez later brought him home on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-5.
Francisco exited with one out and a runner at first in the eighth. Adam Falinski (2-2) took over and struck out the first batter he faced before issuing a walk and allowing a two-run go-ahead double to Alexander Frias.
For Falinski, it was his second blown save in as many appearances this week after converting on his first four chances in a Mussels’ uniform. Fort Myers has converted just 46% of its save opportunities this year.
UP NEXT: The series continues on Saturday, August 22. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. with coverage beginning at 5:50 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.