Mighty Mussels finish season with 5-4 comeback win over Tarpons

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 19, 2021) – The night after their first no-hitter in 10 years, the Mighty Mussels finished the season with an exciting 5-4 comeback win over the Tampa Tarpons at Hammond Stadium.

The victory wraps up the franchise’s seventh winning season in the past eight years, finish the campaign with a 60-54 record.

With Fort Myers trailing 4-1 entering the fifth, Misael Urbina reached on an error before Christian Encarnacion-Strand chased him home with a triple to the right field corner.

Still trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Willie Joe Garry Jr. laid down a bunt. Tarpons catcher Antonio Gomez bounced the throw into right field, allowing Garry Jr. to go all the way to third base. Moments later, Garry Jr. scored on a balk to make it 4-3.

In the bottom of the eighth, Charles Mack walked before a wild pitch moved him to second with one out. The next batter was Patrick Winkel, who lined a single to center to score Mack and tie the game 4-4. After a fielder’s choice put Kyler Fedko at first with two outs, Mikey Perez ripped a double down the left field line to score Fedko and give the Mussels the lead.

Ramon Pineda (2-1) worked a perfect eighth inning to earn the win, while A.J. Labas notched his first career save with a scoreless ninth.

Four Mussels finished the day with multiple hits, capping the month of September with a 10-5 record.

Stay tuned for a full season recap later in the week. The Mighty Mussels will be announcing their 2022 schedule in the coming weeks, and already look forward to welcoming the community back to Hammond Stadium next year.