Winkel, Garry Jr. lead offensive onslaught in 10-5 victory over Jays

DUNEDIN, Fla. (August 22, 2021) – Patrick Winkel and Willie Joe Garry Jr. drove in eight runs Sunday, leading a breakout performance from the Fort Myers offense in a 10-5 win over the Dunedin Blue Jays at TD Ballpark.

Winkel and Garry Jr. both drove in four runs and scored twice. Six Mussels (47-44) recorded multiple hits in the contest, with three players notching three hits. Winkel set several career highs as a pro, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run and two walks.

Fort Myers trailed 5-4 and had stranded 11 runners entering the top of the eighth. After a Blue Jays (43-52) error and singles from

Keoni Cavaco and Jesus Feliz loaded the bases with one out, Misael Urbina struck out. With two outs, Winkel worked a walk to tie the game 5-5. The next batter was Garry Jr, who laced a double off the wall in right to clear the bases and extend the lead to 8-5. Kyler Fedko followed with a base hit to left to cap the inning at 9-5 Fort Myers.

The Mighty Mussels got excellent relief work after starter Bobby Milacki exited after just one inning. Steven Cruz (4-2) went three innings to earn the win, allowing just one hit while fanning five. Juan Pichardo worked the final two innings, striking out three without allowing a run.

Trailing 1-0 in the second, the Mussels got the bats rolling when Winkel cranked a solo home run to right – his first career dinger. After Garry Jr. singled and stole second, Alerick Soularie drove him in with a base hit to right.

The Blue Jays then rallied for three runs on four extra-base hits in the bottom of the second to take a 4-2 lead.

In the top of the third, Aaron Sabato walked before Feliz singled him to second. Urbina then walked to load the bases before Winkel pulled a base hit to right to make it 4-3. The next batter was Garry Jr, who lifted a sacrifice fly to left to tie the game 4-4.

Dunedin took the lead in the sixth on a passed ball before the Mussels offense broke out in the eighth.

After splitting the series with the Blue Jays, Fort Myers returns home to begin a seven-game series with the Bradenton Marauders starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.