Late Homers Not Enough as Mussels Drop Game 1 By 6-4 Score 

DUNEDIN, Fla. (September 13, 2022) – The Mighty Mussels' comeback came up short despite fantastic offensive efforts from Ben Ross and Noah Cardenas, as Fort Myers lost Game 1 of the FSL West Division Championship series 6-4 Tuesday at TD Ballpark.

Ross finished a triple away from the cycle, destroying a long solo homer to left in the ninth inning.

In the top of the first, Mussels shortstop Noah Miller singled with one out. The next batter was Tanner Schobel, who beat out a double play attempt before advancing to second on a Cardenas single. Ross then rocketed a single to left to score Schobel and put the Mussels in front 1-0.

The Blue Jays battled right back in the bottom of the first against Fort Myers starter Pierson Ohl (0-1). Josh Kasevich started the inning with a single before Alan Roden doubleed to left to put runners at second and third with nobody out. The next batter was Cade Doughty, who reached on an infield single to third to tie the game 1-1. After the play, Rubel Cespedes fired a throw to third, but the ball got away to allow Roden to come in to give Dunedin a 2-1 lead.

Ohl then balked in a third run, making it 3-1. With Peyton Williams at third and one out, Estiven Machado lined a sacrifice fly to cap the inning at 4-1.

With the same score in the bottom of the third, Roden singled before advancing to second on an error. With two outs, Devonte Brown ripped a single to center to make it 5-1.

Still down 5-1 in the top of the fifth, Misael Urbina walked with two outs. The next batter was Miller, who scorched a single to right to cut the lead to 5-2.

On the first pitch in the top of the sixth, Cardenas sent a first-pitch fastball over the left field fence to continue chipping away at 5-3.

The Blue Jays added another run in the bottom of the seventh on another single from Devonte Brown to make it 6-3.

In the top of the ninth, Ross continued his big night, sending a 3-1 fastball over the wall in left to cut the lead to 6-4. Kala'i Rosario then singled to center to bring the tying run to the plate, but Ben Baggett retired the next three Mussels to seal the Blue Jays' win.

The Mighty Mussels will look to stave off elimination at 7 p.m. on Thursday. RHP Marco Raya (3-2, 3.05) takes on RHP Edisson Gonzalez (0-0, 3.09) with coverage beginning at 6:40 on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.