Mussels Erase Two Deficits to Beat Threshers 5-4

CLEARWATER, Fla. (April 9, 2024) – The Mighty Mussels erased a pair of deficits Tuesday, breaking a 4-4 tie in the eighth inning to defeat the Clearwater Threshers 5-4 on Opening Night at BayCare Ballpark.

With the game tied in the top of the eighth, Mussels’ (3-1) center fielder Angel Del Rosario drew a leadoff walk against Clearwater (2-2) reliever Drew Garrett (0-1). Del Rosario then stole second before Byron Chourio also walked. Garrett threw the next pitch to the back stop, allowing the runners to advance to second and third. Rayne Doncon promptly drove a sacrifice fly to center to give Fort Myers a 5-4 lead.

The Mussels’ bullpen did the rest. Danny Moreno (1-0) spun two scoreless innings, fanning two. Lefty Kade Bragg entered for the ninth and put down the Threshers in order on just 10 pitches to earn the save.

The Mighty Mussels battled back from a pair of deficits in a tight game played in front of 4,490 fans. Down 1-0 in the third, Rafael Cruz drilled a double to the fence in right center with one out. Del Rosario then singled to left to move Cruz to third. After Del Rosario stole second, Chourio plated Cruz on a ground out to make it 1-1. The next batter was Doncon, who delivered a sacrifice fly to left to give Fort Myers a 2-1 lead.

After Clearwater tied the game with a pair of hits in the fourth, Kehden Hettiger gave them the lead with a two-run double in the fifth.

With the Mussels trailing 4-2 in the sixth, Chourio walked before Doncon singled. Two batters later, Brandon Winokur drilled a two-run triple to the right field corner to tie the game 4-4.

Mussels’ starting pitcher Cesar Lares was solid in his Low-A debut, allowing three runs on four hits over 4.2 innings. He struck out five and walked two while throwing 77 pitches. Nolan Santos pitched the Mussels out of a pair of jams in the middle innings to keep the game close.

The Mussels will look to extend their winning streak to four on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. RHP Ty Langenberg will make his season debut for Fort Myers, opposed by Micah Ottenbreit of Clearwater. Coverage begins at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.