Late Threshers Rally Takes Out Mussels 8-7 in Ten

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 15, 2023) – Danny De Andrade launched a mammoth two-run homer Saturday, but the Mussels squandered a 4-1 ninth inning lead in an 8-7 loss in ten innings to the Clearwater Threshers at Hammond Stadium.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth, Mussels (42-41, 8-9) center fielder *Dylan Neuse *and third baseman *Mikey Perez *led off with back-to-back walks, advancing to second and third on a balk. Two hitters later, *Ricardo Olivar *shot a single to center that scored both runners to give the Mussels (43-40, 9-8) a 2-1 lead. The next hitter was De Andrade,who pummeled a two-run homer to deep left center that pushed the lead to 4-1. The ball left De Andrade’s bat at 103.4 miles per hour and traveled 411 feet.

Starter *Jarret Whorff *(2-0)was stellar for Fort Myers, tossing five shutout innings while allowing two hits and fanning four. He has now allowed just two earned runs over his previous 20.2 innings of work (0.89 ERA).

With no score in the top of the sixth, Emaarion Boyd and Ricardo Rosario singled to place runners at the corners with one out. Bryan Rincon followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Boyd to make it 1-0 Clearwater (55-27, 11-6).

With a 4-1 Mussels lead in the top of the ninth, Gabriel Yanez retired the leadoff hitter before the Mussels turned to Jackson Hicks. Otto Kemp and Cole Moore promptly notched back-to-back singles with one out. Felix Reyes followed with a three-run homer to left that tied the game 4-4.

Still tied in the top of the tenth, Boyd was placed on second as the automatic runner. Justin Crawford followed with a bunt single, and Rosario walked to load the bases. With one out, Otto Kemp cleared the bases with a triple off the left field wall that gave Clearwater a 7-4 lead. Two batters later, Felix Reyes served a sacrifice fly to center to score Kemp and make it 8-4.

In the bottom of the tenth, Neuse was sent to second as the automatic runner. Perez led off the inning with a titanic two-run blast that cut the deficit to 8-6. After *Kamron Willman *and *Ricardo Olivar *eachsingled, the Mussels threatened with runners at the corners and one out. *Carson McCusker *thensent a high chopper up the middle that led to a 4-6 fielder’s choice, plating Willman to make it 8-7. Rubel Cespedes then worked a full count before striking out swinging to end the game.

The defeat is the Mussels’ first when leading after eight innings. They were previously 31-0.

The Mussels will look to bounce back and earn the series win tomorrow when they send *Andrew Morris *(3-1, 3.03) to the mound versus Oswald Medina (1-1, 4.00) of the Threshers. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. with coverage beginning at 11:45 a.m. on the Mighty Mussels Baseball Network.