Jones, Tinney Lead Mighty Mussels to Second Straight Historic Win
BOX SCORE FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 2, 2026) - The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels recorded the third 20-run game in franchise history (tracked since 2004) with their 20-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium. The offensive outburst was the second 20+ run performance of
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 2, 2026) - The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels recorded the third 20-run game in franchise history (tracked since 2004) with their 20-3 win over the Palm Beach Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at Hammond Stadium.
The offensive outburst was the second 20+ run performance of the season, trailing just the 24 runs on May 30 earlier this season for the all-time record. The 17-run differential today was the largest margin of victory of the campaign.
Its our third game since 1992 with a least 20 runs scored!!!
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) August 2, 2026
Doubles from Colby Turner and Aidan Teel add to the lead 💪
Top 8 | FTM 20 - PMB 3 pic.twitter.com/EbuzXXeX5F
Mussels’ (54-46, 17-18) starter Merit Jones climbed the record books on the mound. The righty now has the most strikeouts in a single season in the Mussels’ era (since 2020) with 102 and sits second in innings pitched with 93.2.
“It’s truly a blessing,” Jones said postgame. “I am grateful I have gotten so many opportunities here.”
With five strikeouts across four innings today, Jones leaped ahead of Pierson Ohl who had 101 strikeouts in 91.2 innings during the 2022 season. Jones leads the Florida State League in innings this season.
Merit Jones stands alone!!!
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) August 2, 2026
The righty records strikeout No. 102 on the season, the most by a Fort Myers' pitcher in the Mussels' era (since 2020) 💪 #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/u9ScJIF4Gu
His lone blemish was a three run homer allowed to Cardinals’ (52-49, 19-16) first baseman Trevor Haskins in the second inning. Jones retired eight of the final nine men he faced after allowing the homer.
“The offense put up a big inning which gave me a chance to mentally reset,” Jones said, crediting his teammates for being able to bounce back later in his start.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the second, Fort Myers rallied for their best inning of the season. With two outs and a man at second, the Mussels began a streak of 10 consecutive batters reaching base safely. The two-out rally started with six straight hits and was kicked off by the first professional hit for Scholvin. Two batters later, Ramiro Dominguez tied the game with a two-run double. It was his 21st double of the season, tied for third in the FSL.
Vahn Lackey followed with a go-ahead single to make it 4-3. Carson Tinney then blasted his first professional hit, a two-run homer on the berm in left. The shot set a franchise record for exit velocity at 114.9 mph.
A lot going on here! ♾
— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) August 2, 2026
Ramiro Dominguez ropes a game-tying double... ⚾️
Vahn Lackey pulls a go-ahead single into left... 💪
And Carson Tinney's first hit is a home run. At 114.9 mph, it is the HARDEST HIT BALL in franchise history!! 💣😱#MNTwins
Bot 2 | FTM 6 - PMB 3 pic.twitter.com/tj7yEtGVva
“It’s pretty cool,” Tinney said. “It’s a ton of fun seeing the guys come together and play as a team…. Ending the week on two good wins gives us a lot of momentum leading into next week.”
Fragoza capped the 10-run inning with a grand slam to left center. The 10 runs were a season-high in a single inning and the eighth hits tied for the most in an inning. In total, 14 men came to the plate and all 10 runs scored with two outs.
Scholvin recorded both his first and second professional hit in the same inning.
Fort Myers added another pair of runs in the third, thanks to two Palm Beach errors, extending the lead 12-3.
Matthew Dalquist (2-3) took over on the mound in the fifth. He retired all nine batters he faced across the fifth, sixth and seventh inning.
The Mussels saw six straight men reach in the sixth inning against Justin Milletello. The Cardinals then brought in Jesus Garcia to face Teel with the bases loaded, no outs, and two runs already in. After a strikeout, an infield single from Fragoza coupled with another error extended the lead to 17-3. Fort Myers batted around for the second time in the game, scoring five runs on just two hits in the frame.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mighty Mussels brought seven more men to the plate. Colby Turner lashed a two-run double and Teel drove in a run on a double of his own to make it 20-3.
Michael Hilker Jr. worked the final two frames in the win, striking out four hitters. Between Jones, Dalquist and Hilker, Fort Myers pitching retired 21 of the final 23 batters they faced.
The Mussels have now scored double-digit runs in 16 games this season, moving into a tie with Palm Beach for the most 10+ run outbursts in the FSL in 2026.
Fort Myers wore the Miracle throwback jerseys today and are now 24-18 all-time those uniforms.
The Mighty Mussels hit the road for a six-game series with the Bradenton Marauders on Tuesday, August 4. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. with coverage beginning at 6:15 p.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.